Deceased's parents get son's custody

In a moment charged with emotion, the 10-month-old son of late Vaishnavi Hagawane — who allegedly died by suicide earlier this month — was handed over to her parents, the Kaspate family, on Thursday afternoon.

- Vicky Pathare

PUNE: The reunion brought tears to the eyes of the grieving family, who said it felt, even if briefly, like Vaishnavi herself had come home.

Vaishnavi, daughter-in-law of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rajendra Hagawane, died in an alleged dowry case that has shocked Maharashtra and sparked public outrage. Her husband Shashank Hagawane, mother-in-law Lata, and sister-in-law Karishma have been arrested on charges of dowry harassment and abetment to suicide. Her father-in-law Rajendra and elder brother-in-law Sushil are on the run.