Vaishnavi Hagawane, 26, died by suicide amid dowry harassment claims. Her in-laws face charges as investigations deepen in Pune.
Vaishnavi Hagawane, a 26-year-old from Pune, died by suicide on May 16, 2025, at her in-laws’ home in Bhukum, Pimpri-Chinchwad. Her father, Anil Kaspate, filed a complaint accusing her husband, Shashank Hagawane, and in-laws of abetting her suicide through persistent dowry demands, including 51 tolas of gold, silver, an SUV, and a later demand for ₹2 crore to buy land. Evidence presented in court revealed Vaishnavi endured severe physical assault, with injuries from objects like a plastic pipe. Mayuri Hagawane, her sister-in-law, exposed the family’s cruelty, saying, “They beat me, cut off water and electricity, and isolated me.”
The accused include Shashank, his parents Rajendra and Lata, sister Karishma, and brother Sushil. Rajendra and Sushil were arrested on May 23 in Swargate, Pune, after being on the run for a week. The other three were detained earlier on May 17. Charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita include dowry death, abetment of suicide, and physical assault, highlighting the gravity of the case.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice. Supriya Sule demanded an impartial probe, noting visible assault marks on Vaishnavi’s body and questioning if it was murder. A state-wide anti-dowry campaign is set to begin on June 22.
