AviationCrash – Pawar Family Seeks FIR in Baramati Jet Tragedy
AviationCrash – Senior Nationalist Congress Party (SP) legislator Rohit Pawar, along with his cousin Yugendra Pawar, on Thursday formally approached the Baramati Taluka police station demanding the registration of a First Information Report against VSR Ventures, the company that operated the aircraft involved in the January 28 crash that killed Maharashtra’s then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The request comes a day after Rohit Pawar submitted a similar complaint at the Marine Drive police station in Mumbai, urging action against the firm and its directors in connection with the fatal incident.
Fresh Complaint Filed in Baramati
On Thursday morning, the two leaders arrived at the Baramati Taluka police station accompanied by a large group of supporters. Many of them carried placards calling for justice for the late NCP leader. The Pawars handed over a written complaint, reiterating their demand that an FIR be registered against VSR Ventures.
Speaking to reporters outside the police station, Yugendra Pawar said the family believed that the facts emerging so far warranted a formal criminal case. He added that their primary objective was to ensure accountability and to push for a swift and transparent investigation into the crash.
Ajit Pawar was among five people on board the Learjet-45 aircraft when it went down near Baramati in Pune district during landing. The aircraft was operated by VSR Ventures.
DGCA Action Raises Questions
The renewed demand for legal action follows recent steps taken by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. On Tuesday, the aviation regulator ordered the grounding of four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures, citing non-compliance with approved procedures in areas related to airworthiness, flight safety and operational standards.
Yugendra Pawar claimed that the regulator’s findings pointed to serious lapses. According to him, if evidence of criminal negligence is established through the investigation, a formal case must be registered against those responsible.
However, authorities have not yet publicly confirmed any conclusion regarding negligence in the crash.
Case Transferred to CID
Immediately after the incident, an accidental death report was registered at the Baramati Taluka police station. The matter was subsequently transferred to the Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department for a detailed probe.
A police official indicated that since the original report was filed in Baramati, subsequent complaints related to the crash would also be forwarded to the CID in Pune for further examination.
Rohit Pawar has questioned the circumstances surrounding the crash in recent days. After filing his complaint in Mumbai, he alleged that the police there declined to register an FIR. In a post on social media platform X, he expressed concern over what he described as reluctance by authorities to initiate a criminal case despite requests from elected representatives across party lines.
He suggested that transparency was essential in a matter of such public importance and said the family would continue to pursue legal remedies to ensure a thorough investigation.
Political and Personal Dimensions
Yugendra Pawar, a grandnephew of Sharad Pawar and son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother, had contested the 2024 state assembly election from the Baramati constituency on an NCP (SP) ticket but was unsuccessful. Despite political differences within the extended Pawar family in recent years, Thursday’s move reflected a united demand for clarity over the events that led to the crash.
The remains of the aircraft, which crashed during landing near Baramati, are central to the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has yet to release its preliminary findings on the incident.
With multiple agencies now examining the case, including the aviation regulator and the CID, the family’s demand for an FIR adds a new legal dimension to an already sensitive matter. Officials have maintained that the investigation is ongoing and that conclusions will be drawn based on technical and forensic evidence.