Trial begins against six in Vaishnavi Hagavane dowry death case

Trial in the Vaishnavi Hagavane dowry death case began in a sessions court in Pune on March 16, 2026, against six persons, including five members of the family of expelled NCP leader Rajendra Hagavane. Vaishnavi (23) was found hanging on May 16 last year at her in-laws' house in the Bhukum area of Pune. Police invoked charges related to dowry death, abetment of suicide, physical assault, and criminal intimidation, among other sections. The trial against six accused in Vaishnavi Hagavane case began today, with the first witness examined in court. Charges are yet to be framed against the five other accused who have been booked for charges of knowingly harbouring two accused on the run.

The five persons accused of harbouring the two absconding accused are Mohan alias Bandu Uttam Bhegade (60), a resident of Vadgaon Maval; Bandu Laxman Fatak (55), a resident of Lonavala; Amol Vijay Jadhav (35) and Rahul Dasharath Jadhav (45), both residents of Pusegaon in the Khatav area of Satara; and Pritam Veerkumar Patil (47), a resident of Kognoli in Chikodi taluka of Belgaum district in Karnataka.

While the five members of the Hagawane family and Chavan are currently in prison under judicial custody, the five persons booked for harbouring the accused are out on bail, officials said.