Pune News: Five Held For Sheltering Accused In Vaishnavi Dowry Death Case, Including Ex-Minister’s Son
Pune News: Three Loan Recovery Agents Arrested For Illegally Handing Over JCB To Shashank Hagawane
In a significant development in the Vaishnavi Hagavane dowry death investigation, Pimpri-Chinchwad Police on Monday arrested five individuals for allegedly aiding the primary accused—Rajendra and Sushil Hagavane—while they were absconding. Among those detained is Pritam Veerkumar Patil, son of veteran Karnataka Congress leader and former energy minister Veerkumar Patil.
The five accused—Mohan alias Bandu Uttam Bhegade (60) of Vadgaon Maval, Bandu Laxman Phatak (55) of Lonavla, Amol Vijay Jadhav (35) and Rahul Dasharath Jadhav (45) of Pusegaon in Satara district, and Pritam Veerkumar Patil (47) from Kognoli, Belgaum—allegedly provided shelter, transport, and logistical assistance to the Hagavanes during their time on the run.
According to Senior Inspector Anil Vibhute of Bavdhan police station, the accused father-son duo stayed at several locations across Pune, Satara, and the Maharashtra–Karnataka border. Their hideouts included resorts and farmhouses arranged by the arrested individuals. One such resort, where they stayed from May 19 to 21, was booked under Pritam Patil’s name. Patil also arranged food deliveries during their stay, resort owner Shilpa Nageshkar confirmed.
The investigation further revealed that Rajendra and Sushil kept a low profile during this period, often arriving late at night and avoiding daytime movements. They were also hosted at Amol Jadhav’s farmhouse and visited locations such as Alandi, Vadgaon Maval, and Kognoli before returning to Pune on May 22. Two others, Gulzar Zari and Gaubi Mulla, were seen accompanying them at the resort.
Sources indicated a personal link between Rajendra Hagavane and Pritam Patil through shared interests in horse riding, which may have facilitated the latter’s involvement in helping them evade arrest.
Meanwhile, the police informed the court that Vaishnavi’s post-mortem revealed 29 injury marks on her body, with at least five to six wounds inflicted before her death, pointing to ongoing physical abuse. Police also presented her husband Shashank Hagavane, mother-in-law Lata Hagavane, and sister-in-law Karishma Hagavane in court on Monday. Their police custody has been extended until May 28 for further inquiry.
Authorities have frozen all bank accounts linked to the Hagavane family and are probing suspicious financial activities, including the mortgaging of Vaishnavi’s gold. Investigators are also examining possible ties between the family and absconding suspect Nilesh Chavan, suspecting a wider conspiracy. A joint interrogation of the three arrested family members has been sought to delve deeper into the case.
