The tragic death of Vaishnavi Hagavane, daughter-in-law of NCP's Mulshi taluka president Rajendra Hagavane, continues to spark outrage across Maharashtra. Vaishnavi reportedly died by suicide due to ongoing dowry-related harassment, and her family has alleged persistent mental and physical abuse by her in-laws.
In a new and explosive development, Mayuri Jagtap, Vaishnavi’s sister-in-law and the wife of another Hagavane family son, has come forward with serious allegations of her own. Speaking to Lokshahi Marathi, Mayuri accused the Hagavane family of similar patterns of abuse, claiming that they used emotional manipulation, dowry demands, and even physical violence to torment daughters-in-law.
Mayuri Jagtap said, "When I came to know about Vaishnavi, I was shocked. Now I wondered how her baby would turn out. Earlier, the Hagavane family had given me a lot of trouble. But my husband was with me, so I was able to bear the trouble. When my mother and brother came to visit, my sister-in-law would say, 'Your son-in-law lives in the next room. This door is closed for you.' My sister-in-law and Nanad threw my mother out of the house."
Shashank's life was in turmoil when he got married to Vaishnavi.
"When Shashank got married to Vaishnavi, I thought I should go and tell Vaishnavi, but she was madly in love with Shashank. If I had told her, the Hagavane family would have given me more trouble."
She added that Vaishnavi had also faced intense pressure and surveillance.
“They would provoke Vaishnavi’s husband Shashank against her. The same way they tried to ruin my marriage by saying, ‘We’ll get him a better, richer wife if he divorces you.’”
In a particularly disturbing remark, Mayuri said:
“In our house, anyone who didn’t obey the elder sister (Nanand) was beaten. Everyone followed her instructions as if she were the matriarch. Even Vaishnavi used to obey her, but I still don’t understand why she was beaten.”
She described a culture of fear and dominance, noting that she too had once fled the house out of fear, even though her husband supported her.
These revelations come in the wake of public outcry following Vaishnavi’s death. The Maharashtra Women’s Commission, social activists, and concerned citizens are demanding a thorough investigation into the Hagavane family’s alleged involvement in systematic abuse of women within their household.
The case has prompted broader discussions about the failure of dowry laws, the need for better protections for married women, and the influence of political connections in muting justice.
As investigations continue, testimonies like Mayuri Jagtap’s may play a crucial role in exposing patterns of domestic abuse masked behind social respectability and political power.