NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar visited Marine Drive police station in Mumbai on Wednesday to file an FIR regarding the fatal plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar. He alleged that senior police officials refused to register the FIR despite initial steps being taken by junior officers. Rohit Pawar explained that a junior officer and the Senior Police Inspector were initially cooperative, even beginning to print the FIR after discussion. However, a higher-ranking officer, the Additional DCP, intervened and refused to register it. He emphasized that under current law, any FIR for a cognizable offence must be registered, and filing it is a citizen’s right.

Before visiting the station, Pawar stated that FIRs were intended against multiple parties: VSR’s associates, DGCA officials involved, the company ARROW that approved the flight, and ARROW officials linked to the state government. A fifth FIR will remain unnamed, as the case is being treated as a potential criminal conspiracy.

He also alleged links between VSR’s company and Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, claiming that these connections, along with ties between BJP leaders and VSR, have prevented direct action against VSR. Pawar added that since Ajit Pawar’s death, it remains unclear whether the crash was accidental or deliberate, which requires investigation.

Regarding the DGCA report released on January 28, Rohit Pawar said it technically gave VSR a clean chit. He reiterated his party’s demand for the Aviation Minister’s resignation, stating that recent clarifications were driven by public and media pressure, but only revealed part of the larger issue.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered a special safety audit of M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd following the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crash at Baramati on January 28, which claimed five lives, including 66-year-old Ajit Pawar. Pawar, along with his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots, died when the aircraft crash-landed near the runway while attempting to land. He had been traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.