Pune Sessions Court Advances Dowry Death Case, Framing Charges Against Accused Family
A sessions court in Pune has taken a significant step forward in a high-profile dowry death case that has captured statewide attention. On Thursday, the court formally framed charges against expelled NCP functionary Rajendra Hagawane, his wife Lata, their two sons Shashank and Sushil, their daughter Karishma, and a family friend Nilesh Chavan.
Tragic Death and Initial Investigation
The case stems from the tragic death of 24-year-old Vaishnavi Hagawane, who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her marital home in Bhukum on May 16 of last year. While the initial discovery suggested suicide, the postmortem report revealed injury marks on Vaishnavi's body, raising serious questions about whether her death resulted from suicide or murder.
This discovery transformed the investigation, with allegations emerging that Vaishnavi had been subjected to persistent dowry harassment and domestic violence prior to her death. The case quickly generated substantial public outrage across Maharashtra, highlighting ongoing concerns about dowry-related crimes.
Arrests and Expanding Case
Based on a complaint filed by Vaishnavi's father, Anil Kaspate, on May 17 last year, the Bavdhan police initially arrested three family members: Vaishnavi's husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma Hagawane. The investigation subsequently widened, leading to the arrests of father-in-law Rajendra Hagawane, brother-in-law Sushil, and family friend Nilesh Chavan.
Chavan faces particularly serious additional charges for allegedly keeping Vaishnavi's minor son in his custody for two days and threatening her father with a gun when he attempted to retrieve the child. These actions have compounded the severity of the case against him.
Legal Proceedings and Charges
In July last year, the Pimpri Chinchwad police filed a comprehensive chargesheet against six primary accused who remain in jail, along with five additional individuals accused of shielding Rajendra and Sushil during their period as fugitives. These five individuals, charged with aiding the crime, have been granted bail.
Special prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar provided updates on the legal status, noting that bail pleas for Lata, Sushil, and Chavan are currently pending before the Bombay High Court. The six main accused were produced before Additional Sessions Judge KP Kshirsagar via video conferencing from prison.
During Thursday's proceedings, the accused requested that charges not be framed at this stage. However, prosecutor Pawar successfully cited relevant Supreme Court rulings to argue for proceeding with charge framing. The court accepted this submission and formally framed charges against all six accused.
Specific Charges and Trial Timeline
The accused now face multiple serious charges including dowry death, abetment of suicide, cruelty and harassment, conspiracy, and causing hurt. Nilesh Chavan additionally faces charges under provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act related to his handling of Vaishnavi's minor son.
The court has adjourned the matter to February 23, when recording of evidence is expected to commence, marking the official beginning of the trial phase. This represents a critical milestone in a case that has highlighted systemic issues of dowry harassment and domestic violence while testing the judicial system's response to such crimes.
The framing of charges establishes the legal foundation for the prosecution's case and sets the stage for what promises to be a closely watched trial with significant implications for how similar cases are handled in the future.
