Rohit Pawar Questions CID Probe Into Ajit Pawar Crash, Seeks CBI Investigation

Seven months after former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has alleged a cover-up in the investigation and questioned the progress of the probe. The Karjat-Jamkhed MLA has also announced that he will present what he described as evidence of the alleged cover-up at a press conference on September 4. His allegations have renewed political attention on the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Ajit Pawar died on January 28, 2026, after a VSR Aviation aircraft crashed and caught fire near the runway while landing at Baramati airport. Rohit Pawar, marking the seventh-month anniversary of the incident, questioned why the investigation had not progressed significantly. He also raised concerns over procedural and legal delays surrounding the case and demanded greater clarity from the authorities.

In a social media post, Rohit Pawar alleged that the State CID investigation had made little progress and questioned why the case had not been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). He also claimed that an FIR had not been registered in connection with the case and that an FIR filed in Karnataka had not been transferred by the Maharashtra government. He questioned whether efforts were being made to protect VSR Aviation and announced that he would present documents and other evidence during his September 4 press conference.

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The NCP (SP) MLA had previously raised questions about the aviation company's financial dealings and government payments. According to his allegation, around Rs 145 crore was disbursed to VSR Aviation between January and March. He claimed that Rs 15.72 crore was cleared a day before the crash, Rs 9.81 crore on the day of the incident and another Rs 16.86 crore the following day.

Rohit Pawar also questioned the reported increase in payments to the private aviation firm during the period surrounding the crash. He pointed to what he described as a sharp rise compared with monthly billing that had typically averaged around Rs 10 crore. The claims have been made in the context of his broader demand for a detailed investigation into the crash and the company's operations.

The allegations have not been established as facts, and the circumstances surrounding the crash remain subject to investigation. Rohit Pawar has previously called for a high-level probe, including the possibility of an investigation by the CBI or State CID. His scheduled September 4 press conference is expected to provide further details on the evidence he has referred to, while the progress and findings of the official investigation will remain central to determining the circumstances of Ajit Pawar's death.

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