1 month ago
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A Zero FIR has been registered astatine a constabulary presumption successful cardinal Bengaluru based connected a ailment by Maharashtra MLA Rohit Rajendra Pawar, alleging a transgression conspiracy down the death of erstwhile Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a caller level crash.
“The complainant had approached assorted constabulary stations successful Maharashtra, but they had refused to registry an FIR. Hence, a Zero FIR was registered successful Bengaluru,” a elder constabulary serviceman said.
The FIR was registered astatine the High Grounds Police Station connected March 23 and aboriginal transferred to the Baramati Rural Police successful Maharashtra for further investigation.
Any constabulary presumption tin registry a Zero First Information Report erstwhile the transgression has not taken spot nether its jurisdiction, and transportation it to the due constabulary station.
Crash background
Ajit Pawar and 4 others were killed connected January 28, 2026, erstwhile a Bombardier Learjet 45 (VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed adjacent Baramati Airport successful Pune territory portion flying from Mumbai.
In the ailment filed nether Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s nephew, stated that helium had earlier approached the Marine Drive and Baramati constabulary stations successful February, but nary FIR was registered. He besides claimed that the Pune CID was examining lone the Accidental Death Report (ADR) angle, prompting him to question a broader transgression probe autarkic of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Allegations of conspiracy
The complainant alleged that the clang was the effect of a “larger transgression conspiracy” aimed astatine eliminating the elder leader. The FIR claims determination were systematic violations of aviation information norms, falsification of records, and gross negligence successful attraction and operations that straight led to the deaths.
The ailment cited findings of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which reportedly recovered VSR craft to beryllium negligent and not airworthy, starring to their grounding during the investigation.
According to the FIR, the craft was operated adjacent to its mandatory motor overhaul bounds of 5,000 formation hours. It allegedly under-reported formation hours, with claims suggesting that existent usage whitethorn person exceeded 8,000 hours. Certification records showed anomalies, including the issuance of an airworthiness certificate anterior to craft registration, alleged the FIR. The complainant besides raised concerns astir the aircraft’s anterior usage abroad, stating it had been retired from work successful the United States earlier being inducted into operations successful India.
Weather and landing
The FIR highlighted discrepancies successful visibility astatine the clip of landing. While informal assessments suggested visibility of 3,000 metres, authoritative METAR information reportedly indicated astir 2,000 metres with mist — beneath the minimum required for Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
Despite this, landing clearance was allegedly granted, raising questions implicit regulatory compliance and operational decision-making.
Mr. Rohit Pawar alleged that the primitively scheduled unit was replaced astatine the past infinitesimal citing “traffic delays,” which helium termed implausible. The craft was piloted by Captain Sumit Kapoor, who, according to the complaint, had a past of alcohol-related violations and anterior suspension by the DGCA.
The FIR besides mentions that successful the last moments earlier the crash, the co-pilot issued a distress exclamation, portion the main aviator remained soundless with nary exigency telephone oregon corrective action.
The ailment flagged aggregate “unusual factors”, specified arsenic a hold of astir 70 minutes successful departure, a last-minute runway alteration earlier landing, etc.
The FIR besides quoted a DGCA information audit study declaring and admitting that craft of the VSR institution were recovered to beryllium negligent, not airworthy and truthful were grounded.
“Aircraft VT-SSK was being operated successful systematic usurpation of mandatory information standards. More gravely, probe has revealed that VSR allegedly under-recorded the aircraft’s existent formation hours successful authoritative logbooks. Credible accusation suggests the craft whitethorn have, successful fact, accumulated formation hours successful excess of 8,000 hours, acold beyond its certified harmless operational limits,” the FIR noted.
