Pune police arrested expelled Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) district functionary Rajendra Hagawane and his brother-in-law Sushil on Friday, nearly a week after the suicide of Hagawane’s 26-year-old daughter-in-law, allegedly caused by dowry harassment. Earlier this week, Hagawane’s son, wife, and daughter were also arrested in connection with the case.
Hagawane and Sushil were absconding following charges of abetment to suicide. Authorities arrested them after receiving a tip-off about their plans to relocate. A police officer stated, “They had dinner at a restaurant in Maval shortly before their arrest, and CCTV footage from the venue was collected.”
The NCP expelled Hagawane and his son on Thursday amid widespread outrage over the alleged dowry harassment, domestic violence, and abetment charges.
According to a police complaint filed by the parents of the deceased daughter-in-law, they had provided 595 grams of gold, silver, and an SUV as part of the marriage dowry. The family allegedly pressured the woman, demanding Rs2 crore to purchase land.
Additionally, Nilesh Ramchandra Chavan, a close aide to the Hagawane family, was booked for allegedly threatening the daughter-in-law’s parents when they sought custody of her child on May 19.
