Pune: A sessions court on Tuesday rejected the bail applications of Lata Hagawane, the wife of expelled NCP functionary Rajendra, her daughter Karishma, and their family friend Nilesh Chavan in the alleged dowry death of their younger daughter-in-law Vaishnavi in May.Special public prosecutor Ujwala Pawar told TOI, “The court of additional sessions judge KP Kshirsagar rejected the three bail applications after hearing arguments from either side. The court pronounced the operative part today (Tuesday) and a full text of the order is likely to be released soon.” Vaishnavi was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her marital residence in Bhukum on May 16. The post-mortem report revealed injury marks on her body, sparking speculation as to whether her death was a suicide or a possible homicide. The incident triggered widespread outrage across the state, amid serious allegations of dowry harassment and domestic violence. On May 22, CM Devendra Fadnavis said police investigation would ascertain if Vaishnavi’s death was a case of suicide or murder.Based on her father Anil Kaspate’s complaint, the Bavdhan police on May 17 arrested Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma. The police arrested her father-in-law Rajendra and elder brother-in-law Sushil on May 23.Later, the police arrested Chavan, who kept Vaishnavi’s minor son in his custody for two days and allegedly threatened her father with a gun when he had gone to secure the custody of the child. The police also arrested five others, who harboured Rajendra and Sushil while the two were on the run. A court later granted bail to these five accused.As of now, all the five members of the Hagawane family and Chavan are lodged in Yerawada jail. On July 14, the police filed a chargesheet before a magisterial court against all the 11 accused named in the case, including the five who are out on bail.The police have invoked offences punishable under sections 80 (2) (punishment for dowry death), 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy), 108 (abetment of suicide), 115 (2) and 118 (1) (both related to voluntary causing hurt and hurt by dangerous weapons or means) 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 352 (intentional insult), 3 (5) (common intention) and 249-b (harbouring or concealing an offender) of the BNS. The police have also invoked offences under sections 75 (cruelty to a child) and 87 (abetment of an offence) of the Juvenile Justice (Care & Protection) Act and section 4 (demanding dowry) of the Dowry Prohibition Act against them.
