Pune Crime l 'Stop Defaming My Daughter, She's Gone!' Vaishnavi Hagawane's Father Breaks Down In Tears (VIDEO)

Amidst the uproar over the courtroom arguments in the Vaishnavi Hagawane suicide case, her father, while talking to the media in Pune on Thursday, broke down in tears as he appealed to not defame his daughter since she is gone now.

Vaishnavi’s father, Anand Kaspate, and her uncle, Mohan Kaspate, held a press conference at their residence in Wakad to address the claims in the case.

For the uninitiated, on Tuesday, when police sought an extension of custody for the accused, the defense opposed the request, controversially casting doubt on Vaishnavi’s character.

Despite postmortem findings indicating bruises and allegations of torture made by Vaishnavi’s parents, the defense argued in court that “four slaps by the husband do not amount to harassment.” They further claimed Vaishnavi had suicidal tendencies and had been chatting with another individual. According to the defense, this person was to be engaged on May 18, which might have prompted Vaishnavi to take her life on May 16.

The defense also denied dowry allegations, asserting that the Hagawane family is wealthy and owns cars worth Rs 5 crore. They questioned the direction of the investigation, claiming that the police were ignoring the “real” reason behind her suicide.

Anand Kaspate spoke to the media, saying, “Everything the lawyer of the Hagawane family has stated is false. They are trying to divert attention from the case and cover up the crime. We have never been shown the messages they mention.”

Pune: "My Daughter Is Gone, Please Don’t Defame Her," Vaishnavi Hagawane's Father Breaks Down in Tears pic.twitter.com/suraZvCC7h

— Punekar News (@punekarnews) May 29, 2025

Pune: Her Two Earlier Arranged Marriages Fell Apart Because of Hagawane Family, Says Vaishnavi's Father pic.twitter.com/LlJFPBIVHr

— Punekar News (@punekarnews) May 29, 2025

Demand of Fortuner in wedding

In response to another claim by the Hagawane family’s lawyer, Advocate Vipul Dushing, who said they never demanded a car as dowry since they already owned cars worth ₹5 crore, Kaspate said, “They claim they didn’t ask for a car, but I had initially booked an MG Hector for the wedding. Later, after much discussion, they insisted on a Toyota Fortuner.”

He also slammed the defense lawyer in the case who claimed that slapping four times by the husband does not amount to assault.

Vaishnavi, the daughter-in-law of expelled NCP leader Rajendra Hagawane, hanged herself at her marital home in Bavdhan in Pimpri-Chinchwad on May 16. Her family has alleged she was harassed for dowry, including a demand for Rs 2 crore to purchase land, by Rajendra Hagawane, a Maratha, and his relatives.

According to her parents, the Hagawane family was given 51 tolas (595 gm) of gold, silver, and an SUV during the wedding, but the harassment allegedly continued. The grand wedding, held at an upscale Pune resort in 2023, saw Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who heads the NCP, handing over the keys of an SUV to the couple.