Pune: Ex-Karnataka Minister’s Son Sent to Yerawada Jail Along with 5 Others in Vaishnavi Hagawane Case

Pune, 27th May 2025: Five accused arrested for harbouring Rajendra and Sushil Hagawane in the Vaishnavi Hagawane death case have been sent to judicial custody. Among them is Pritam Patil, son of former Karnataka Energy Minister and senior Congress leader Veer Kumar Patil. All five have been sent to Yerawada Central Jail.

Vaishnavi Hagawane was mysteriously found dead on 16th May after reportedly enduring two years of sustained mental and physical abuse by her husband and in-laws. The alleged reasons behind the torture were persistent dowry demands and suspicion regarding her character. She was found with injury marks, and the incident was initially reported as a suicide.

Acting swiftly, Bavdhan Police arrested her husband Shashank Hagawane, her mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law. However, her father-in-law Rajendra Hagawane, an ex-NCP leader, and brother-in-law Sushil Hagawane had gone absconding.

On 26th May, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police arrested five individuals for aiding the accused in evading arrest. The arrested individuals include Mohan Bhegade, aged 60 and a resident of Vadgaon Maval; Bandu Phatak, aged 55 and a resident of Lonavala; Amol Jadhav, aged 35 and a resident of Khatav, Satara; Rahul Jadhav, aged 45 and also from Khatav, Satara; and Pritam Veer Kumar Patil, a resident of Belagavi, Karnataka.

After Vaishnavi’s body was taken to Pune District Hospital in Aundh, Rajendra and Sushil Hagawane visited the hospital and later fled in a Mahindra Thar. On the same day, 17th May, they first went to Muhurt Lawns in Bavdhan, then to Vadgaon Maval, followed by a farmhouse near Pawana Dam, and later a lodge in Alandi. The next day, they returned to Vadgaon Maval in a Maruti Suzuki Baleno. During this time, they were hosted by Bandu Phatak and Mohan Bhegade.

On 19th May, they traveled to Pusegaon in Satara district, where they were given shelter by Amol and Rahul Jadhav. Later, they moved to Koganoli in Belgaum on the Maharashtra–Karnataka border, where Pritam Patil booked them a room at Heritage Resort and later hosted them at his farmhouse.

On 22nd May, the father-son duo returned to Pune, where they were arrested by Pimpri-Chinchwad Police. The case, which has drawn national attention, had earlier brought criticism upon the police department for failing to arrest the key accused promptly. After their arrest, the police apprehended the five individuals who helped them evade law enforcement.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2) Vishal Gaikwad told Punekar News that the court has granted judicial custody to all five accused arrested on May 26, and they have been sent to Yerawada Central Jail. “We had sought police custody, but it was not granted. We are continuing our investigation,” he added.