Pune l 'Asale Nalayak Mansa Majhya Pakshat Nako': Ajit Pawar Expels Rajendra Hagwane After Vaishnavi Hagwane Suicide, Distances Himself From Case; Watch Video

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday broke his silence on the alleged suicide case of Vaishnavi Hagwane and the allegations surrounding his party member Ravindra Hagwane.

“Hang me if I’m guilty. How am I related to her death? I only attended the wedding. When I handed over the keys, I even asked whether it was a gift or if he had demanded it,” Pawar said, firmly denying any involvement.

Responding to the political fallout and public outrage, Pawar announced the dismissal of Ravindra Hagwane from the party, stating, “Asli nalayak manasa mazya pakshat nako” (I don’t want truly useless people in my party).

Pawar even said he instructed Police  said he has asked police to deploy additional teams, if necessary, to nab the father-son duo.

Rajendra's daughter-in-law Vaishnavi (26) allegedly hanged herself on May 16 at her in-laws' house in Bavdhan area near Pune.

Her parents alleged that they had given 51 tolas (595 gm) of gold, silver and an SUV to her husband's family at the time of marriage, but the Hagawane family harassed her yet, demanding that she bring Rs 2 crore to purchase land.

Police have arrested the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the victim, while Rajendra and Sushil are on the run.

A First Information Report was registered against her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata Rajendra Hagawane, Rajendra Hagawane, sister-in-law Karishma; and brother-in-law Sushil under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to abetment to suicide and domestic violence, police said.

Speaking at a party event in Baramati, Ajit Pawar referred to the wedding of Vaishnavi and Shashank where he handed over the keys of an SUV to the couple.

He had asked the bride's father whether the car was being gifted willingly or under pressure from the groom's family, Pawar noted.

"You all invite me to weddings and I try to attend them. But if I attend the wedding of a party worker's son and he later mistreats his daughter-in-law, how am I to be held responsible? Did Ajit Pawar ask him to do that?" he asked.

Deploy more teams: Pawar

"Immediately after learning about the incident, I called the Commissioner of Police, Pimpri Chinchwad and asked for strict action...Three teams have been formed to trace them (Rajendra and Sushil) and I have directed police to deploy more teams if needed," Pawar added.

The media was dragging his name into this matter for no reason, the deputy CM said.

At such weddings, he is often asked by the bride's father to hand over car keys or other gifts to the groom, Pawar said.

"I make it a point to ask whether the gift is being given willingly or under pressure. I had even warned that if a gift was demanded, I would not spare that person," he said.

Pawar also said he had spoken to Vaishnavi's father, Anand Kaspate, and assured full support to the family. 

Additionally, Rajendra Hagawane and his son Sushil -- both currently absconding -- have been expelled from the party, said Pune district NCP chief Shivaji Garje in a statement.

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