Vaishnavi Hagawane case: Firearms, SUV seized from Bhukum bungalow

Pune: Two pistols and a set of silver utensils were among items seized by police on Saturday from a bungalow in Bhukum, belonging to Rajendra Hagawane (57), the expelled member of NCP and father-in-law of Vaishnavi Hagawane (24), who was found hanging from a ceiling fan in the house on May 16.The bungalow was searched on Saturday afternoon by Pimpri Chinchwad police, who said the two pistols were licenced firearms. The utensils, police added, were gifted to the Hagawane family during Vaishnavi's wedding with Rajendra's son Shashank. Both father and son have been dismissed from NCP and face dowry harassment and other charges as police investigate if Vaishnavi's death was suicide or murder, as alleged by her family. They were arrested on Friday morning by police after seven days of being on the run.Police said they were also searching for the vehicles the duo used to move around during those seven days. Senior inspector Anil Vibhute of Bavdhan police said: "We believe they stayed at hotels, lodges and farmhouses. On Friday, we seized two cars and a two-wheeler. The two pistols we found were registered to Vaishnavi's husband Shashank and her brother-in-law Sushil. The licences were issued to them in 2022 by Pune city police."On Friday night, police also searched the house of Shashank's business associate Nilesh Chavan, who allegedly threatened Vaishnavi's father, Anil Kaspate, at gunpoint when the latter went to his house to seek custody of his daughter's nine-month-old baby. Chavan is currently wanted for questioning by police and faces charges under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Deputy commissioner of police (Zone III) Sambhaji Kadam said on Saturday: "We recovered Chavan's laptop from his office. Nothing incriminating was found at his home. The searches were conducted in the presence of Chavan's parents."Kadam said the laptop would be sent to the forensic science laboratory for password cracking as part of efforts to recover data that may or may not be relevant to the investigation. Chavan is believed to be a business associate of Shashank. Late on Thursday night, police registered a case against him based on Kaspate's complaint that claimed he was threatened with a revolver by Chavan when he sought the custody of his grandson.Senior inspector Vibhute said: "We are searching for Chavan. His name has been included in the dowry case and we have also invoked sections of the JJ Act against him. After Vaishnavi's death, the Hagawane family moved her child to Chavan's home in Karvenagar. Her family has claimed that Chavan did not properly care for the child."Senior inspector Vishwajeet Kaingade of Warje Malwadi police, which carried out the search at Chavan's home, said the police commissionerate has served a notice to his family, seeking an explanation as to why his .32 bore revolver licence should not be revoked. Based on the reply given by Chavan or his family members, the licence issuing authority will take a call on further action. Kaingade said Chavan's family has also been notified to join the police in the investigation.