Pune: Rohit Pawar to Move Court After Police Refuse FIR in Baramati Aircraft Crash Case

Pune, 26th February 2026: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday said he would approach the court after police refused to register a case in connection with the Baramati aircraft crash, despite a report by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation holding VSR Aviation responsible for the accident.

Speaking to reporters in Pune, Pawar said complaints were submitted at Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai and Baramati Police Station based on the DGCA findings, but police declined to register an FIR, citing that the investigation is being conducted by the State Crime Investigation Department (CID). “As citizens, we have the right to seek registration of an offence. Denying this right is unacceptable,” he said.

According to Pawar, CID officials informed him that the probe was progressing in the right direction but the DGCA report had not yet been officially received by them. However, he expressed suspicion of possible sabotage behind the crash and said he has already recorded his statement before the CID and submitted all available evidence.

Pawar further alleged that political and financial links connected to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry could affect the transparency of the investigation. He claimed that VSR Aviation received funding from a cooperative credit institution allegedly linked to close associates of Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, while also alleging that some BJP leaders had financial dealings with the company. These connections, he said, raise serious concerns about the impartiality of the probe.

He also questioned the credibility of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, noting that it functions under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. Pawar said that when the investigating agency comes under the same ministry, doubts about transparency cannot be ruled out, and demanded that leaders from the same political grouping should not be assigned charge of the Civil Aviation Ministry.

Referring to the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the crash, Rohit Pawar said justice must be ensured. “It is extremely unfortunate that even after the death of such a senior leader, there is a struggle to get an offence registered. Our demand is clear — an immediate FIR and a transparent, time-bound investigation into the Baramati plane crash,” he added.