Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Maharashtra Govt Orders CID Probe Into Deaths Near Baramati Airstrip

Pune/Baramati, 30th January 2026: The Maharashtra government has directed the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to conduct a parallel probe into the deaths of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others after their chartered jet crashed near the Baramati airstrip on Wednesday morning.

Confirming the move, Additional Director General of Police (CID) Sunil Ramanand said the order was issued early Thursday. “We have been asked to investigate the accidental death report registered at the Baramati Taluka police station. Our first priority is to preserve the scene and ensure there is no tampering with evidence,” Ramanand said.

According to CID officials, the entire stretch around the crash site and the airstrip has been sealed. “No unauthorized person is being allowed near the wreckage. Police teams are guarding the area round the clock, and forensic experts have already collected material evidence from the spot,” Ramanand added.

The Learjet 45, carrying Pawar and four others, went down just a short distance from the runway while attempting to land. All five people on board, including the pilot, co-pilot and a cabin crew member, died in the impact.

On Thursday, CID officers obtained the accidental death report from the Baramati Taluka police station and visited several government offices in the town as part of the preliminary inquiry. “We will examine all records linked to the flight, the airstrip operations and the immediate response after the crash,” a senior CID officer said.

The technical investigation into the cause of the accident is being led by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) along with a team from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The CID probe will run alongside these agencies and focus on the circumstances recorded in the police case.

“The government has asked us to submit a comprehensive report based on our findings,” Ramanand said.