Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra CID Examines Foul Play Angle as Political Pressure Mounts
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 26th February 2026: The investigation into the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has intensified, with the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID) stating that it is examining all possible angles, including criminal conspiracy, negligence, and illegal omissions, while coordinating closely with central aviation authorities.
Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president and one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians, died on January 28, 2026, when the chartered Learjet 45 he was travelling in crashed during an attempted landing at Baramati Airport. The aircraft, which had taken off from Mumbai, burst into flames on impact, killing all five persons on board, including Pawar, his aide, two pilots, and a flight attendant. Pawar was heading to his home constituency to campaign for local body elections when the accident occurred.
Amid rising demands for accountability, high-voltage political drama unfolded on February 25 when Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Pawar approached Mumbai Police seeking registration of a criminal case in connection with his uncle’s death. In his complaint, Rohit Pawar sought action against VSR Ventures and its directors, concerned officials of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, state government officials, and other unknown persons.
Rohit Pawar also had a confrontation with a senior police officer at the Marine Drive police station after being informed that a fresh FIR would not be registered. “As a citizen, I am well within my rights to register an FIR. The police cannot refuse to register it. We want a thorough investigation in Dada’s death. All questions must be answered,” he said, adding that he would pursue the matter further in Baramati as well.
The Marine Drive police later clarified that an accidental death report had already been registered at Baramati Taluka Police Station and that the case was currently being probed by the Maharashtra CID.
Addressing the media in Pune on Thursday, Maharashtra CID chief Sunil Ramanand provided a detailed status update on the investigation at the State CID Headquarters. He said the accidental death case, registered as Case No. 11/2026 under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, was initially filed at Baramati Taluka Police Station and later transferred to the CID on the directions of the Director General of Police.
Sudhir Hiremath, Special Inspector General of Police, CID Crime (West) and PR Patil, Superintendent of Police, CID, were also present on the occasion.
Ramanand said the primary objectives of the probe are to determine whether there was any foul play, criminal conspiracy, rash or negligent act, or illegal omission that led to the crash. He stressed that the investigation is being conducted in a professional and impartial manner.
The CID is coordinating with multiple agencies and expert bodies. Medical opinions are being obtained from Baramati Government Medical College and the forensic medicine department of Pune (BJ) Medical College, while technical assistance is being provided by the Pune Forensic Science Laboratory. Central aviation authorities and other central agencies are also part of the process.
The CID is in constant coordination with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which is conducting an independent technical probe into the crash. Ramanand said the AAIB’s final report would be incorporated into the CID’s findings before any conclusion is drawn.
He also confirmed that the Maharashtra government has written to the Centre seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), given the gravity of the incident and public interest involved. If evidence of criminality emerges, an appropriate criminal case will be registered and prosecution initiated.
Providing a progress update, Ramanand said a substantial amount of evidence has already been collected and remaining material is being gathered on priority. He noted that such investigations do not have fixed timelines, as clarified by the Supreme Court, due to the involvement of multiple agencies and expert analyses. However, he assured that the probe is moving at the right pace under proper supervision.
The CID chief reiterated that the focus remains on uncovering the truth behind the fatal crash and establishing whether any procedural lapses or criminal elements contributed to the incident. Further details will be shared once all evidence and expert reports are thoroughly examined.
