Bombay HC Rules on Dowry Death: Key Accused Freed

In a significant development concerning the alleged dowry death of Vaishnavi (24) in Pune, the Bombay High Court on Thursday granted bail to three individuals: Lata Hagawane (mother-in-law), Sushil Hagawane (son), and family friend Nilesh Chavan. The court's decision was based on a review of the material evidence presented.

Justice Milind N Jadhav stated that the evidence attributed to the mother-in-law, son, and family friend did not prima facie demonstrate any incriminating actions or instigation that would lead the victim to her death. The court emphasized the need to examine all evidence holistically, rather than being swayed by emotional appeals from the complainant's side.

While acknowledging the presence of injuries on the victim's body, the bench pointed out that these might implicate her husband, who was present at the house on the day of the incident. The court further noted that Lata Hagawane was not present at the house, Sushil Hagawane was living separately, and Nilesh Chavan was not even named in the initial FIR, adding weight to their bail applications.

Further analysis of WhatsApp conversations between Vaishnavi and her husband, Shashank, suggested that she was not a person who would succumb to continuous physical assault, as she was vocal and responsive in her messages. The court also considered that Vaishnavi's family had not previously lodged any complaints regarding alleged mental torture or harassment, which supported the applicants' case.

Vaishnavi was found hanging in her marital home on May 16, 2025, with postmortem reports revealing injury marks, raising questions about suicide versus murder. Her father's complaint led to the arrest of her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma Hagawane. Later, Rajendra Hagawane and Sushil Hagawane were arrested, along with Nilesh Chavan for allegedly holding Vaishnavi's son. Shashank, Rajendra, and Karishma remain in custody.