FIR Registered in Karnataka in Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Case after Rohit Pawar’s Complaint; Probe Shifted to Maharashtra

Pune, 24th March 2026: An FIR has been registered at High Grounds police station, Bengaluru in Karnataka in connection with the plane crash that killed NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. Pawar’s nephew and NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar lodged a complaint there following failed attempts to get a case registered in Maharashtra.

Police at High Grounds police station in Bengaluru registered the case based on Rohit Pawar’s complaint and later transferred it to Maharashtra for further investigation, as the crash occurred near Baramati airport. Earlier, Rohit Pawar had approached Marine Drive police station in Mumbai on February 25 and Baramati police station on February 26, but no FIR was registered. He was subsequently informed that the Pune CID was examining the matter only from the perspective of an accidental death report.

The Karnataka police have booked suspected accused under sections 61,103,105,106,125,238,336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). This including provisions related to culpable homicide, negligence, and endangering life.

The complaint pertains to the crash of a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, which went down near Baramati on January 28, 2026, between 8.43 am and 8.45 am while flying from Mumbai. All five persons on board, including Ajit Pawar, died in the crash.

Filed as a Zero FIR under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the complaint alleges that the crash was not merely accidental but the result of a larger criminal conspiracy aimed at eliminating the senior leader.

Rohit Pawar has cited multiple alleged violations, including systemic breaches of aviation safety norms, falsification of records, and gross negligence in aircraft maintenance and operations. He has referred to a DGCA safety audit dated February 24, which found certain aircraft operated by VSR to be unfit for flying and subsequently grounded them.

The complaint further claims that the crashed aircraft was operating dangerously close to its mandatory engine overhaul limit and may have actually flown far beyond permissible hours, with discrepancies in official logbooks suggesting under-reporting of flight time.

Questions have also been raised over weather conditions and landing clearance, with the complaint alleging that the aircraft was allowed to land despite visibility being below prescribed limits under Visual Flight Rules.

Additionally, the complaint flags irregularities in certification records, including the sequence of airworthiness and registration approvals, as well as concerns over the aircraft’s prior service history abroad.

Serious allegations have also been made regarding the pilot, including a history of alcohol-related violations and last-minute changes in crew assignment. The complaint claims these factors, along with unexplained schedule changes and operational decisions during landing, point to possible foul play.

Seeking a comprehensive probe, Rohit Pawar has called for a full-fledged criminal investigation alongside the ongoing technical inquiry by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).