States » WestPosted at: Nov 8 2026 8:54PM


'A Diwali without dowry deaths would be the real Diwali’: Dr Neelam Gorhe

Pune, Nov 8 (UNI) Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Legislative Council member Dr Neelam Gorhe has called for stronger action against dowry-related harassment and deaths, saying that a Diwali without a single dowry death would be the real celebration for Maharashtra and for her.
"Every Diwali, reports of women losing their lives following harassment over dowry are deeply distressing. During Lakshmi Puja, my only prayer is that not a single daughter in Maharashtra should become a victim of dowry harassment. The Diwali in which no dowry death takes place will be the real Diwali for me," said Gorhe, who is also a former Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council and president of the Stree Aadhar Kendra.
Gorhe visited the parental home of Payal Zambare at Shriramnagar in the Khed Shivapur area of Pune district and met members of the Pawar family. She expressed grief over Payal's death, consoled her relatives and gathered details about the incident. She assured the family that she would stand by them and pursue the matter until justice was delivered.
Shiv Sena Pune district chief Ramesh Konde, women's wing contact chief Kanta Pandhare, Yuva Sena district chief Nilesh Ghare and representatives of Stree Aadhar Kendra were present during the visit.
Demand for Special Public Prosecutor Serious allegations have been raised in connection with Payal's death, including dowry-related harassment, mental torture and abetment to suicide. Gorhe demanded a comprehensive investigation, including examination of the post-mortem report, mobile phone conversations, financial transactions and other relevant evidence.
She also called for the prosecution to take an appropriate stand before the court regarding police custody of the accused, wherever required for the investigation.
She further demanded the appointment of an experienced Special Public Prosecutor to ensure effective representation of the case and stringent punishment for those found guilty.
Gorhe expressed concern over the safety and future of Payal's young daughter following her death. She urged the Women and Child Development Department to intervene immediately and initiate the necessary legal proceedings to secure the child's custody for her maternal family, keeping the child's best interests in mind.
"As a mother and grandmother, I was deeply moved when I saw the little girl. We cannot bring her mother back, but ensuring her future and safety is our responsibility," she said.
Gorhe said she had apprised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam about the case.
She also said that she would seek an inquiry if there had been any alleged delay in arranging an ambulance or taking other necessary steps after Payal's body was found.
Referring to the bail granted to the accused in the Vaishnavi Hagawane case, Gorhe said the relevant court orders should be examined and, if there were sufficient legal grounds, the government should approach the appropriate court seeking cancellation of bail.
She pointed out that granting bail in dowry death and abetment-to-suicide cases could affect the morale of victims' families. The possibility of pressure being exerted on witnesses and the safety of children must also be taken into consideration, she said.
Notably, in the first case, Payal Zambare, a 30-year-old IT professional and MBA graduate, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on November 2, 2026, at an apartment complex in the upscale Mukund Nagar area of Pune.
Payal was married to Akshay Zambre Patil in 2019. Her family has alleged that since her marriage, she was subjected to constant physical assault and mental cruelty over ongoing dowry demands. Before she was found hanging, Payal allegedly sent a text message to her brother stating, "My mother-in-law is responsible if anything happens to me."
In the other case, Vaishnavi Hagawane (23) was found hanging at her marital home in Bhukum, Mulshi taluka (Pune district), on May 16, 2025. Her family alleged that despite providing substantial gold, silver, and a luxury car at the wedding, the in-laws subjected Vaishnavi to relentless mental and physical torture over additional demands of ₹2 crore to purchase land.
The Bombay High Court granted conditional bail to three accused—mother-in-law Lata Hagawane, brother-in-law Sushil Hagawane, and family friend Nilesh Chavan—in the high-profile Vaishnavi Hagawane death case.
UNI SP RN
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