3 months ago
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Ajit Pawar’s household has expressed suspicion that the formation clang successful which helium died past period was a sabotage and not an accident. Holding a property conference successful Mumbai connected Tuesday (February 10, 2026), Ajit Pawar’s nephew and NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar raised respective questions, and sought an autarkic probe by astatine slightest 2 planetary agencies.
He claimed that the past infinitesimal changes were made to the itinerary and that the unit was not vetted earlier being changed astatine the past minute. He besides asked if substance tanks were illegally carried connected the trade and if the aviator had intended to clang the level alternatively of landing it safely.
Meanwhile, a fewer leaders of NCP met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis connected Tuesday (February 10, 2026) and submitted a missive seeking a high-level, court-monitored probe successful Pawar’s death.
During his one-and-a-half hr property conference, Mr. Rohit Pawar claimed that determination were contradictions astir the timing of the clang successful the ATC transcript and successful the study fixed by the Union Aviation Ministry. He besides claimed that the transponder was switched disconnected a infinitesimal earlier the crash. Casting aspersions connected the aviator of the aircraft, helium asked wherefore the aviator did not utter a azygous connection adjacent erstwhile the level was going down, and wherefore were the past words uttered lone by the adjunct pilot. He claimed that incorrect accusation was provided astir visibility earlier the instrumentality disconnected from Mumbai, and asked wherefore the aviator repeatedly asked for support to onshore connected a much challenging runway connected a tabletop, alternatively of landing connected a wide runway, which was allegedly easier to onshore on.
He accused the investigating agencies of a lax attitude, claiming that the probe was not being done with a consciousness of urgency. He expressed apprehension that the dilatory velocity mightiness pb to an accidental for covering of tracks.
“Our main suspects are VSR, Arrow, Sumit Kapoor (pilot). There was misrepresentation that the visibility was clear. We spot the DGCA. We person nary allegations against the government. But however tin a CID probe find retired details erstwhile an adept sentiment is needed? Currently, the velocity of the probe is precise slow. Is determination nary involvement successful the probe? Will it pb to the anticipation of manipulation?” helium asked during the property league astatine YB Chavan auditorium successful Mumbai.
“Why was the level stalled? Where is the techlog of the craft? Where is the airworthy study of the craft? Who had done the regular check-up? The investigators request to talk with those who indispensable person done each these inspections and written each the reports. Where are the CCTV footages of the hangar? No probe has been done truthful far. All these things tin beryllium manipulated if this is not done properly,” helium said.
He showed surface grabs of alleged backstage Whatsapp radical conversations wrong the company, claiming that the aviator successful question was earlier rebuked for drinking.
Mr. Rohit Pawar claimed that determination were superior concerns astir VSR, the institution which owned the aircraft. “Cockpit Voice Recording was kept switched off. There was flouting of Flight Duty Time Limitation. Techlog wasn’t maintained. Stall Warning System was not functional. Was determination unit connected the aviator to scope the adjacent determination successful the afternoon?” helium said.
‘Culpable homicide’
Ajit Pawar, Captain Sumit Kapoor, with a flying acquisition of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak, with 1,500 hours of flying, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav, and formation attendant Pinky Mali, were killed connected January 28, erstwhile the Learjet craft crashed adjacent the Baramati airdrome successful Pune district.
Mr. Rohit Pawar raised respective questions regarding the series of events starring up to the crash.
According to Mr. Rohit Pawar, the archetypal pilots — Sahil Madan and Yash — were reportedly delayed owed to traffic. “Then however did Sumit Kapoor and Shambhavi Pathak scope the airport? Were they surviving nearby?” helium asked, adding that Pathak had much flying acquisition connected the Learjet than Kapoor.
He further demanded that VSR institution officials beryllium booked for culpable homicide.
According to Mr. Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar was scheduled to question to Pune connected the evening of January 27 aft a Cabinet meeting, and his convoy was acceptable — a information that could beryllium verified done CCTV footage astatine Deogiri Bungalow, Ajit Pawar’s authoritative residence.
“However, a person from East Vidarbha arrived with a record related to scrapping a governmental consultant’s contract, which delayed the meeting. The craft booking was done precocious astatine night. Ajitdada was scheduled to instrumentality disconnected astatine 7 am, yet the level departed lone astatine 8.10 a.m.,” Mr. Rohit Pawar said.
(With PTI inputs)
