Published Mar 25, 2026 | 2:48 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 25, 2026 | 2:48 PM
The plane crashed at the threshold of runway 11 while attempting to land and immediately burst into flames, killing all five aboard.
Synopsis: In his complaint, Rohit Pawar claimed that there were “systematic violations” of aviation safety regulations, deliberate falsification of records, gross negligence in maintenance and operations, and a pattern of conduct which led to the incident.
A Zero FIR was registered at the High Grounds police station in Bengaluru based on a complaint by NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, nephew of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, alleging that his death in a plane crash in Baramati was a result of a “larger criminal conspiracy”.
In a post on X on Wednesday, Rohit Pawar said that the case filed in Karnataka has been transferred by the Karnataka Police to the Maharashtra Police.
“Now the test is of the Maharashtra Police force… To ensure that the accused in this case receive punishment,” he said in the post.
अजितदादांच्या विमान अपघातप्रकरणी कर्नाटकमध्ये दाखल केलेला गुन्हा कर्नाटक पोलिसांनी महाराष्ट्र पोलिसांकडे वर्ग केला आहे. आता परीक्षा आहे महाराष्ट्र पोलीस दलाची… या गुन्ह्यातील आरोपींना शिक्षा मिळावी म्हणून ‘सद्रक्षणाय खलनिग्रहणाय’ या ब्रीदवाक्याला साजेसा सखोल तपास महाराष्ट्र… https://t.co/wQRDgDhYXQ pic.twitter.com/DEz8JmTajT
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) March 25, 2026
In his complaint, Rohit Pawar claimed that there were “systematic violations” of aviation safety regulations, deliberate falsification of records, gross negligence in maintenance and operations, and a pattern of conduct which led to the incident.
He had said that he had previously approached Marine Drive Police Station and Baramati Police Station but an FIR wasn’t registered. He was subsequently “informed by Pune CID that they were examining only the Accidental Death Report angle”
Rohit, an MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed, had been consistently raising questions regarding the plane crash and the VSR Ventures, which owned the aircraft.
Noting the immediate inspection by the Union Aviation Ministry and AAIB (Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau) at the office of Redbird Airways, following the crash in Jharkhand, Rohit, on 24 February, questioned why the same procedure was not followed in the case of Ajit Pawar.
Earlier, Rohit had sought an investigation into the possible sabotage angle, the record of the pilot and the conduct of VSR Ventures.
Earlier, Rohit Pawar had alleged that there are links between the TDP and VSR Ventures. He called for the resignation of Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, who is from the TDP, citing alleged financial and political links between VSR Ventures and the party.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar was among five — including two crew members — killed after a chartered jet crashed in Baramati, some 90 km from Pune, on 28 January.
The VSR Aviation-operated Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK, from Mumbai, crashed while attempting to land and burst into flames on impact at the threshold of runway 11 at Baramati airport at 8.46 am.
The accident occurred when Pawar, 66, was arriving in his hometown, Baramati, to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad polls.
Besides Pawar, his staff members Vidip Jadhav and Pinky Mali, and crew, Captain Sumit Kapur and Captain Sambhavi Pathak were on the plane.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Anisha Reddy)
