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Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar connected Wednesday (February 25, 2026) attacked aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), claiming that it had earlier attempted to springiness aviation institution VSR Ventures a “clean chit” earlier aboriginal admitting to information lapses by it.
VSR Ventures Private Limited was the institution that operated the ill-fated Learjet 45 craft (VT-SSK) level which crashed adjacent the Baramati airstrip successful Pune territory connected January 28, 2026, sidesplitting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and 4 others.
We fishy that Ajit Pawar’s decease was sabotage, not an accident, says family
Speaking to reporters connected the Vidhan Bhavan premises successful Mumbai, Mr. Pawar said the study issued by the DGCA astatine 1.36 p.m. connected January 28, 2026 had stated that during the past regulatory audit conducted successful February 2025, nary "Level-I findings" were reported against VSR Ventures.
“When Ajit Pawar’s assemblage was taken to the hospital, the DGCA issued the report. It was the archetypal effort to contented a cleanable chit to VSR,” helium alleged.
Questioning the regulator’s role, Mr. Pawar asked, “Who issued the airworthiness certificates? Who looks into craft maintenance? Who volition instrumentality attraction of aerial safety? All responsibilities prevarication with the DGCA. If VSR is astatine fault, past the DGCA is besides astatine fault.”
According to Mr. Pawar, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu had connected January 28, 2026 said that determination were nary information concerns with the Learjet craft operated by VSR Ventures and that each approvals had been granted aft a thorough appraisal by the DGCA.
“Director General of Civil Aviation had thoroughly checked and each approvals were fixed to VSR Ventures. It had undergone an appraisal past year,” helium said.
However, referring to the DGCA’s information peculiar audit study issued connected Tuesday (February 24, 2026), Mr. Pawar termed it a “partial success” of his sustained request for enactment against the company.
After uncovering respective compliance lapses, aviation regulator DGCA connected Tuesday directed the grounding of 4 craft of VSR Ventures. Following the Baramati crash, it had ordered a peculiar information audit of VSR Ventures.
“The DGCA’s study is simply a partial occurrence successful my request against the company. The information peculiar audit observed respective non-compliances successful approved procedures successful the organisation successful the areas of airworthiness, aerial information and formation operations. It means my earlier property conferences and issues raised past are present admitted by the DGCA,” helium said.
“It is present saying that determination were non-compliances but we mislaid a leader. He was a Deputy Chief Minister. He would person decidedly go the Chief Minister. But present helium is gone,” Mr. Pawar said.
The MLA, who represents the Karjat Jamkhed constituency successful Ahilyanagar district, alleged that the aviation regulator admitted that determination were problems lone aft sustained unit but had initially attempted to “shield the company”.
Mr. Pawar alleged that adjacent the latest DGCA study provided an “escape route” to VSR Ventures. He said the regulator has decided to initiate corrective measures by instantly grounding craft successful presumption of the non-compliances observed and gaps successful attraction procedures.
“It means the DGCA has indirectly said that the institution tin reconstruct its craft and restart its business. Why are VSR’s different craft allowed to fly? All craft associated with VSR should beryllium grounded,” Mr. Pawar demanded.
He besides alleged that leaders of the Telugu Desam Party, to which the Aviation Minister belongs, had concern ties with VSR Ventures and were attempting to shield the company. “I americium going to importune connected the resignation of Civil Aviation Minister Naidu and volition proceed to property for it,” helium said.
He demanded that the proprietor of VSR Ventures beryllium booked and strict enactment beryllium taken against DGCA officials. Mr. Pawar further alleged that a institution named Arrow, which looks into aviation-related coordination successful Maharashtra, had declared the craft acceptable to alert connected January 28 and had maintained that upwind conditions were suitable for the flight.
“That institution should besides beryllium booked. There is simply a WhatsApp radical of Arrow officials and Maharashtra authorities officials for the coordination of VIP movement. The State officials should beryllium held accountable arsenic they each knew Mr. Pawar was flying connected January 28 aboriginal morning,” helium said.
