Mumbai, Mar 25: Nearly two months after demanding an investigation into the tragic plane crash that killed NCP leader Ajit Pawar, the Karnataka Police have registered a Zero FIR and requested the transfer of the case to the Baramati Rural Police Station in Pune, Maharashtra, citing jurisdiction issues.
The FIR was filed by NCP (SP) Rohit Pawar, the nephew of the late Ajit Pawar, at the High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru. In a statement, Rohit Pawar confirmed that the Karnataka Police have now "handed over" the FIR to the Maharashtra Police, emphasizing that it is now the responsibility of the Maharashtra Police to ensure a thorough investigation and bring the responsible parties to justice.
He posted on X, "In the case of the plane crash involving Ajit Dada, the FIR filed in Karnataka has been handed over 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. It is expected that the Maharashtra Police will conduct a thorough investigation befitting the motto 'sdrkssnnaay khlnigrhnnaay' and that the state government will cooperate for this purpose."
On March 24, an official letter from P. Harishekaran, IPS, acting on behalf of the Karnataka DGP, was sent to Maharashtra’s Director General of Police (DGP) requesting the transfer of the case. The letter read: "Please find herein the enclosed case file of Bengaluru city, High Grounds Police Station, Zero FIR No: 001/2026... It is requested to transfer the above case to Baramati Rural Police Station, Pune District, Maharashtra State, on the point of jurisdiction."
This filing follows earlier attempts by the family to push for a proper investigation into the plane crash, which claimed the life of Ajit Pawar on January 28. Ajit Pawar was traveling in a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections when the aircraft crash-landed near the runway threshold at Baramati airport, killing all five people onboard, including Pawar, his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots.
Rohit Pawar expressed his concern over the lack of a timely investigation from Maharashtra Police, particularly after the FIR filed in the state was rejected. He explained, “There was no other option. Ajit Pawar had a very close relationship with the people in Karnataka. After his tragic death, we felt it was crucial to file an FIR to investigate the case from a criminal angle, as everyone has the right to a fair investigation."
In the aftermath, Rohit Pawar reached out to national leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, seeking assistance. “We went to Karnataka, and an FIR was filed. This FIR came to the DG of Maharashtra through their DG. We’ll have to see what this government does about this,” he said.
The family has repeatedly raised concerns over a potential conspiracy behind the crash, with Rohit Pawar alleging that a “big power” might be shielding VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, the aircraft operator involved in the incident. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also intervened, writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on March 12, urging a "time-bound," "transparent," and "comprehensive" investigation into the crash.
Fadnavis' letter mentioned Rohit Pawar’s concerns about several factors, including the safety record of VSR Ventures, flight crew deployment, aircraft maintenance, and operational decisions made during landing.
The investigation has now shifted focus on addressing discrepancies in flight data, ensuring the adequacy of regulatory oversight, and determining whether negligence or foul play played a role in the crash.
As the investigation moves forward, the Pawar family and their supporters continue to call for justice, hoping that the authorities in Maharashtra will take decisive action to uncover the truth behind the tragic incident.
