Watch Video: 'Velet Dive Lavle Aste Tar Hi Vel Aali Nasati' — Activist Confronts State Women’s Commission Chief Rupali Chakankar, Leaving Her Rattled Over Vaishnavi Hagawane Suicide Case
Maharashtra State Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar found herself at the center of controversy once again, as she was strongly confronted by Maratha community activists during her visit to the residence of Vaishnavi Hagawane’s parents in connection with the ongoing suicide case that has stirred outrage across the state.
On Friday, as Chakankar arrived to meet the grieving Kaspate family in Pune district, local activists Dhananjay Jadhav and Ashwini Khade directly questioned her handling of similar past cases involving women from the community.
"Accept that you have fallen short in getting justice for Mayuri Jagtap, Vaishanavi, and other such sisters," Jadhav and Khade demanded during the heated exchange. Urging the commission chief to step away from bureaucratic formalities and engage more actively, they declared, "Velet dive lavle aste tar hi vel aali nasati" — implying that had action been taken on time, this tragedy could have been avoided.
She was seen visibly rattled during the heated confrontation with the activist over the Vaishnavi Hagawane suicide case.
The confrontation marks a growing sentiment among community members who feel that the system has failed to deliver timely justice in multiple cases involving women from marginalized and rural backgrounds. Rupali Chakankar has yet to issue a formal response to the criticism.
The Vaishnavi Hagawane case continues to garner public attention, not only for its tragic circumstances but also for the broader questions it raises about women's safety, dowry harassment, and institutional accountability in Maharashtra.
The video of the argument was posted by Adv Rohini Khadse. Rohini Khadse, the women's wing president of the Sharad Pawar-led party, has been at the forefront in criticising the ruling party, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and State Women's Commission Chief Rupali Chakankar, who is from the same party, over the handling of the case.
Meanwhile, Rajendra Hagawane and his son Sushil were taken into custody from the Swargate area while attempting to flee the city.
Rajendra Hagawane's daughter-in-law Vaishnavi (26) allegedly hanged herself on May 16 at her in-laws' house in the Bavdhan area of Pimpri-Chinchwad in Pune district.
Her parents alleged 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 she bring Rs 2 crore to purchase land.
A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against her husband Shashank, mother-in-law Lata Rajendra Hagawane, Rajendra Hagawane, sister-in-law Karishma, and brother-in-law Sushil under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections concerning abetment to suicide and domestic violence, police said.
Police had already arrested Vasihnavi's the husband, mother-in-law and sister-in-law of the victim, while Rajendra and Sushil were on the run.
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