Vaishnavi Hagawane Case Update: Slap ‘Not Abuse’, Says Defence Lawyer; Family Calls It Smear Campaign

Reported by Varad Bhatkhande
Pune, 29th May 2025: The high-profile case surrounding the death of Vaishnavi Hagawane took a dramatic turn on Wednesday as courtroom proceedings commenced, with both the Hagawane and Kaspate families leveling serious accusations against each other.

Represented by advocate Vipul Dushing, the Hagawane family, which includes Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank, father-in-law Rajendra, brother-in-law Susil, as well as her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, has denied all allegations of dowry harassment. Dushing told the media that Vaishnavi’s death was not a result of domestic abuse and attempted to downplay physical violence, stating, “If a husband slaps his wife, it does not amount to domestic violence or harassment.” He further cited a Supreme Court verdict submitted to the Pune District Court as a legal precedent.

Dushing also claimed that the Kaspate family had sold property registered in Vaishnavi’s name to a builder after her marriage in 2023. According to him, the Hagawane family had taken her to her parental home to facilitate her signing a No Objection Certificate (NOC). “If we wanted dowry, why would we let her sign away property?” he argued.

In a more controversial statement, Dushing revealed that “objectionable” content was found on Vaishnavi’s phone, which he said had been seized by her own parents. He asserted that these chats would be submitted to court at an appropriate time.

The Kaspate family, however, has vehemently rejected these claims. Vaishnavi’s uncle, Mohan Kaspate, accused the Hagawane family of launching a smear campaign. “They are trying to malign Vaishnavi’s character to twist the narrative of the dowry harassment case. If they had doubts about her, why did they go ahead with a love marriage? It only shows they were after our family’s wealth,” he said.

Hagawane Family Defends Nilesh Chavan; Chavan Still at Large

The controversy deepened further with the mention of Nilesh Chavan, a friend of Shashank Hagawane and a co-accused in the case. Chavan is currently absconding and faces allegations of mishandling Vaishnavi’s infant and other forms of intimidation. Surprisingly, Dushing came to Chavan’s defense, stating, “Nilesh was only helping during a crisis when five members of the Hagawane family were in jail. After Vaishnavi’s cremation, the Kaspate family did not take custody of the child. Nilesh stepped in to care for the baby. Now, he’s being unfairly targeted.”

Pimpri-Chinchwad Police are still searching for Nilesh Chavan, with multiple teams dispatched across the state to locate him. Allegations include possession of unauthorized firearms, along with a case registered under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, at Bavdhan Police Station. Opposition leaders have criticized the Mahayuti-led government, questioning the Home Department’s capability in failing to trace the accused.