Bavdhan, 26th May 2025: Pimpri Chinchwad Police have arrested five individuals for allegedly harboring Rajendra and Sushil Hagawane—the key accused in the Vaishnavi Hagawane death case—Deputy Commissioner of Police Vishal Gaikwad confirmed. All five will be produced before the court on Tuesday.
Among those arrested is Pritam Patil, son of former Karnataka Energy Minister and Congress MLA Veerkumar Patil. Patil is accused of sheltering the duo at his farmhouse and a resort near the Karnataka-Maharashtra border while they were on the run.
The others arrested are:
Mohan alias Bandu Uttam Bhegade (60), from Vadgaon Maval
Bandu Laxman Fatak (55), from Lonavala
Amol Vijay Jadhav (35), and Rahul Dasharath Jadhav (45), both from Pusegaon, Khatav, Satara
Pritam Veerkumar Patil (47), from Kognoli, Belgaum, Karnataka
Vaishnavi Hagawane, 23, was found dead at her in-laws’ residence in Bhukum, Pune, on 16 May. Initially reported as a suicide, her death led to the arrest of her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma on charges of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide.
Rajendra, Vaishnavi’s father-in-law, and Sushil, her brother-in-law, had been absconding for a week before their arrest. Investigations revealed Vaishnavi had faced ongoing physical and mental harassment, including pressure to bring ₹2 crore for a land purchase. Police also uncovered evidence of physical assault and are investigating the alleged pledging of 51 kg of gold gifted to her as streedhan during her wedding.
To evade arrest, Rajendra and Sushil reportedly moved through 11 locations using various vehicles. After Vaishnavi’s death, they initially went to Vadgaon Maval, then to a lodge in Alandi, followed by a friend’s farmhouse in Maval. They later shifted to Pusegaon in Satara district, then to a resort in Kognoli near Kagal in Kolhapur district, on to Nipani in Karnataka, before eventually returning to Pune. They were finally apprehended in the Swargate area early Friday morning.
Police tracked the duo across Pune, Satara, Kolhapur, and parts of Karnataka, noting their frequent changes in location and vehicles to evade detection. The investigation now focuses on those who assisted them during this period, resulting in the latest arrests. Authorities continue to collect evidence and statements to ensure all involved are held accountable.
