Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A retired irrigation officer, claiming to be wealthy and that his son-in-law held a senior central government post, arranged his son’s marriage with a retired police inspector’s daughter. During the engagement, he demanded expensive jewelry, a five-star hotel, and clothes, collecting Rs 20 lakh in cash for building a house. Ten days before the wedding, he canceled it, citing unmet demands, prompting the police complaint against the entire family.
The accused include retired Chief Engineer Jagdish Lihitkar, his wife Pratibha, son Harshal, daughter Shweta Rishikesh Yashod, and son-in-law Rishikesh Bhaskar Yashod (all Pune residents). The engagement was scheduled for 12 May 2025 and the wedding for 14 December 2025. Shweta Yashod demanded a white-gold diamond ring, a 6-tola bracelet, and a 4-tola gold chain. A lavish engagement at a five-star hotel cost Rs 10 lakh; additional gold and a Rs 1.5 lakh ring were later provided. The son-in-law later demanded Rs 50 lakh for a Pune house; only Rs 20 lakh was paid. The Nanded wedding was postponed due to hotel demands. Despite arranging Rs 1.55 lakh cash, 15 tolas gold, and 25 AC rooms, the Lihitkar family cut contact and refused to return expenses or jewelry. Chhawani police officer Dr Vivek Jadhav registered the case, and police sub inspector Sachin Gadekar is investigating.