Amid mounting public and political pressure, the Maharashtra government has ordered an inquiry into allegations that a senior prison official attempted to shield the accused in the dowry harassment and suicide case of 24-year-old Vaishnavi Hagawane.
The state's home department, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has asked Additional Director General (Jails) Suhas Warke to investigate charges against Special Inspector General (Prisons) Jalindar Supekar. Supekar, who holds additional responsibilities across three key divisions in the state jail department, is reportedly related to Vaishnavi’s husband, Shashank Hagawane, according to a report by the Hindustan Times.
Vaishnavi, daughter-in-law of expelled Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane, died by suicide on 16 May at her marital residence in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Her family has accused her husband and in-laws of repeatedly torturing her for dowry, allegedly demanding Rs 2 crore. Following her death, the police arrested her husband Shashank, his mother Lata (54) and sister Karishma (32). Rajendra Hagawane and his son Sushil are also in custody.
In a fresh revelation, the post-mortem report cited by the prosecution in a Pune court revealed that Vaishnavi had suffered 30 injuries, 29 of which were before her death. Fifteen of these were fresh, inflicted within 24 hours of her demise and at least one injury was estimated to be four to six days old, according to a TOI report.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Nitin Adagale argued for extended custody of the accused to recover the weapons used in the alleged assault, including sticks and blunt objects. The police have already seized a car, scooter and silver vessel given as dowry and are pursuing recovery of gold jewellery and other valuables.
Amid the ongoing investigation, social activist Anjali Damania accused Supekar of attempting to protect the Hagawane family. Addressing a press conference last week, she claimed Supekar was not only a relative of the accused but had also assisted them in securing arms licences - allegedly even for individuals with criminal backgrounds, including fugitive businessman Nilesh Chavan. “This must be fully investigated,” Damania was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying.
She further demanded that Supekar be stripped of his additional charge overseeing prisons in Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur, expressing concern that he might extend undue favours to the accused once they are in judicial custody.
As per Hindustan Times, Damania also revived past allegations from 2015, when police sub-inspector Ashok Sadre, before dying by suicide, had reportedly accused Supekar of sending him to collect extortion money.
Responding to the allegations, Supekar reportedly denied any wrongdoing and claimed he had not been in touch with the Hagawanes for two months. He denied having any role in arms licences or favours. He also refuted Damania’s allegations regarding a Rs 500 crore procurement scam in the prison department, saying the total transaction volume was Rs 350 crore and that he was not the final authority.
Radhika Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), confirmed that the department had received Damania’s documents and directed ADG Suhas Warke to conduct a thorough probe. “I have asked for a report on the matter,” Rastogi was quoted by Hindustan Times.
Rastogi has also reportedly recommended that Supekar be relieved of his current additional responsibilities until the inquiry is completed. Warke, when contacted by the media, said he was yet to receive official instructions but would act as directed.
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