Pune: A sessions court in the city on Thursday framed charges against expelled NCP functionary Rajendra Hagawane, his wife, two sons, daughter and a family friend in the alleged dowry death case of his daughter-in-law, Vaishnavi Hagawane (24), at their house in Bhukum on May 16, last year.Vaishnavi was found hanging from a ceiling fan in her marital home. Postmortem report confirmed injury marks on the body, giving way to speculation whether she died by suicide or was murdered. The case created a major furore in the state over allegations that Vaishnavi was being subjected to dowry harassment and domestic violence.Based on the complaint of Vaishnavi’s father, Anil Kaspate, on May 17 last year, the Bavdhan police arrested Vaishnavi’s husband, Shashank, mother-in-law, Lata, and sister-in-law, Karishma Hagawane. Subsequently, the police arrested her father-in-law, Rajendra, brother-in-law, Sushil, and a family friend, Nilesh Chavan.Chavan is facing charges of keeping Vaishnavi’s minor son in his custody for two days and allegedly threatening her father with a gun when he had gone to take the child.In July last year, the Pimpri Chinchwad police filed a chargesheet against the six accused, who are now in jail, and five others, who are facing charges of shielding Rajendra and Sushil from arrest while they were on the run. The five accused of aiding the crime are out on bail. “Lata, Sushil and Chavan’s bail pleas are pending before the Bombay high court,” special prosecutor Ujjwala Pawar told TOI on Friday.On Thursday, the six accused were produced before the court of additional sessions judge KP Kshirsagar from the prison through video conferencing. The six accused requested against framing of charges at this stage, but prosecutor Pawar cited a couple of Supreme Court rulings and submitted that the charges can be framed against the six accused. The court accepted the submission and went on to frame the charges.“The matter has been adjourned to Feb 23 when the recording of evidence is expected to begin to mark commencement of the trial,” Pawar said.“The accused are being tried for offences of dowry death, abetment of suicide, cruelty and harassment, conspiracy and causing hurt. Chavan is also facing charges under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) Act,” Pawar added.
