A Dalit man's secret marriage with a Maratha woman comes to light, the woman's family allegedly pressurises and threatens them to annul it, the man is found dead by a canal days later, the accused surrenders to the police, but the FIR has no mention of the marriage in it — this is the gist of the case of Vikram Gaikwad's alleged murder in Pune's Bhor taluka that took place on 8 February.
For almost three weeks, Vikram Gaikwad's death has heated up Pune's political circles and Maharashtra's media. While the family has been demanding that the police look into the possibility of honour killing, the FIR only states a 'financial dispute' of the accused with his friend Anuj Chavan who surrendered before the police.
Vikram, a Dalit man, had secretly married Sneha Chavan, a Maratha woman from the neighbouring village in September last year, following which they had applied for their marriage to be registered. But it was only after the word reached Sneha's family that trouble began for the couple.
"He had knowledge that his life was in danger," claimed Vitthal Gaikwad, Vikram's uncle, while speaking to The Quint.
But the events that unfolded before and after the alleged murder have led to several complexities and unanswered questions in the case.
'Murder Out of Financial Dispute': What the FIR Says
As per the complaint filed by Vikram's brother Sagar, the accused identified as Anuj Chavan (24) had a financial dispute with Vikram that led to his killing.
In the complaint, Sagar states: "My brother and Anuj would go to the same gym and they did have financial transactions with each other. On 8 February, Vikram told us that he has been called by Anuj to the neighbouring Venvadi village as he wanted to return the money. At 7.45 PM, Vikram said that he is heading to his gym in Venvadi and then to collect the money from Anuj as was decided. While he was leaving, he told my uncle Vitthal that he has knowledge that there is a threat to his life and that we must file a complaint about it in Bhor police station the next day."
In the complaint, Sagar further claims that after he did not return till 10.45 PM. His mother called on his mobile phone which was picked up by an unknown man. The man claimed that the phone was found at the back of his vehicle that transports vegetables across local markets.
After analysis of CCTV footage and hours of search by police teams, Vikram's car was found by a canal at a stone crushing unit owned by Anuj's family. Vikram's bludgeoned body was found further down by the canal, the FIR stated.
As per the police, Anuj himself arrived at Bhor police station to surrender in the wee hours of 9 February. He has been booked under sections 103 (1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 3 (2) (v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
However, one of the biggest points of contention in the case is that there is no mention of the marriage in the complaint by the family and the subsequent FIR.
'He Was Threatened': The Aftermath of the Secret Marriage
Vikram and Sneha got married on 9 September at Pofale Marriage Hall in Khed district. The certificate issued by the marriage hall and the sub-registrar for registration states that the two had married consensually according to Hindu rituals.
Sneha's family was opposed to the marriage and wanted them to file for divorce.
"Sneha had come to our house to meet us a few months ago when we had no knowledge of their marriage. After discussions, we assured her of having no objection to the wedding but it has to be done with her family on board," Vitthal said.
"After word of their marriage reached her family, they escalated matters to the village's Tanta Mukti Adhyaksha (Dispute Resolution Official appointed at the village panchayat level). They also called upon seniors of our village and urged them to convince Vikram to separate. But even then, Sneha stood firm on her decision and reiterated that she married Vikram of her own free will. Even the Tanta Mukti Adhyaksh told them that their marriage was consensual and they cannot be forced to separate," he said.
"On 5 February, Sneha secretly met Vikram at our farm and cautioned him of a threat to their lives," Vitthal claimed.
The last time Vitthal spoke to Sneha was hours before Vikram's body was discovered. "I called her to ask the whereabouts of her brothers and to ascertain if she had any knowledge of them doing something to Vikram. She said that she tried to call them but they were not picking her calls. That was the last time I heard from her," he said.
Vitthal further claimed that Anuj's and Sneha's families knew each other. "We are not sure of their exact association but the two families know each other," he said.
On being asked why the issue of the marriage was not mentioned by the family in the initial FIR despite so much having transpired, Vitthal said: "When we were filing the FIR, we had just identified the body and then got the FIR registered at about 4:00-4:30 pm. We were shocked and nervous. We did not think of who the accused is and who isn't. We did not pay attention to what the police had or hadn't done."
'Need Substantial Proof': What Vikram's Family Seeks
Vitthal said that they have submitted another complaint to the police with certain demands and asked for an 'additional FIR' to be filed in the matter.
"We need phone records of not just Anuj and his brothers but also that of Sneha's relatives. We need substantial proof whether her family was involved or not. Any association between the two families needs to be probed. Her brother works as a bodyguard in Pune, so it needs to be checked whether he has taken help from anyone there," Vitthal said.
Vikram's family further maintains that his murder could not have been committed by just one person.
"Vikram weighed 90 kgs. He was a big man and could not have been killed by just one person. There are more people involved," he said.
On 18 February, the Gaikwad family participated in a foot march carried out by several protesting bodies to demand for a fair probe. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale's Republican Party of India (RPI) was at the forefront of it.
Speaking to The Quint, Rahul Dumbale, member of National Council for Schduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, questioned why it took a protest march of hundreds for the police to even start looking at the honour killing angle.
"Our stand is very clear - this is a case of honour killing and not just a financial dispute. Nothing happens to Vikram for six months while the marriage was a secret despite having financial transactions with the same person. Within 10 days of the marriage coming to light, how is he found dead? It is no secret that the woman's family was unhappy with the marriage," Dumbale said.
Dumbale and other members of the body have also been assisting the Gaikwad family secure financial compensation they are entitled to under the SC/ST Act.
After the demonstrations on 18 February, the Gaikwad family, along with protesting members, met Pune Rural SP Pankaj Deshmukh to demand for a Special Invetigating Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The same day, a team of five officers from Bhor, Saswad, and Rajgad police stations was constituted to look into the family's claims.
While arguing for Anuj's custody, the police also told the sessions court that there was prima facie a caste angle in the murder.
The police, meanwhile, has not yet found anything substantial to establish a clear angle of honour killing but it is being looked into, sources said.
However, the family has been provided police protection on 20 February given the "sensitive nature of the matter," a press release by the Pune Rural police said.
(With inputs from Alim Shaikh.)