Pune: Kaspate Family Condemns Character Assassination of Vaishnavi Hagawane

Pune, 28th May 2025: The family of late Vaishnavi Hagawane, who died earlier this month allegedly due to prolonged mental and physical harassment by her in-laws, has strongly condemned the attempt to malign her character in court. Speaking emotionally outside the courtroom, Vaishnavi’s maternal family said they are pained not only by her death but also by the fresh trauma inflicted through baseless allegations made by the accused’s lawyers.

“We have full faith in the justice system. But what is being done to our daughter’s name is unacceptable,” said Mohan Kaspate, Vaishnavi’s uncle, addressing the media after the hearing. “The accused is trying to escape punishment by smearing the character of a woman who is no longer here to defend herself. We will not stay silent.”

The emotional remarks followed a courtroom statement in which the defense lawyers representing Vaishnavi’s in-laws reportedly raised questions about her character—a move the Kaspate family has called a deliberate attempt to deflect blame.

“They Demanded 51 Tolas of Gold and a Fortuner”
Vaishnavi’s maternal uncle, Uttam Bhairat, also appeared in court today and made a startling claim. “Before the wedding, the Hagawane family demanded 51 tolas of gold and a Fortuner car. We agreed, despite our limited means, because we wanted our daughter to be happy,” he said. “To accuse her of wrongdoing now, when she’s gone, is not just wrong—it’s cruel.”

Bhairat also detailed how the family attempted to reach out to Vaishnavi’s in-laws for custody of her child. “The day after she passed away, I personally called Karishma Hagawane and requested her to send Vaishnavi’s baby to her maternal home. They refused. Later, we received a call from Rajendra Hagawane’s brother saying the child was crying, and only then were we able to bring the child home.”

“They Loved Her Money, Not Her”
In a further revelation, Bhairat alleged that Vaishnavi had faced emotional exploitation. “She had a love marriage. But what kind of love is this, where she was tortured for more money? Her husband broke off two earlier matches for financial reasons. This was never about love—it was about money,” he said.

“Truth Will Prevail”
The family said they continue to cooperate with the ongoing police investigation and trust the judicial system. “We gave everything—gold, a car, even borrowed money to meet their demands. And now they question her dignity? The truth will come out,” said Mohan Kaspate.

Vaishnavi’s death has sparked outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of anti-dowry and domestic violence laws.