Mumbai, March 4 (NationPress) NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar raised serious concerns on Wednesday regarding the safety of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during his trip to Davos in 2023. In a press conference, he hinted at a potential conspiracy involving the aviation firm VSR, comparing it to a recent technical failure associated with the late Ajit Pawar that resulted in the tragic passing of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

Rohit Pawar stated that the alarming incident transpired between January 16 and 20, 2023, when Eknath Shinde, then serving as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, and senior officials were traveling to the World Economic Forum in Davos. He accused VSR of allowing their private jet to enter Iranian airspace without obtaining the necessary clearances.

“Reports indicate that while the plane was en route to Zurich after refueling in Bahrain, it mistakenly entered the Iranian airspace. The Iranian Air Force issued a clear ultimatum, threatening to shoot down the aircraft if it did not alter its course immediately. This situation was similarly encountered when they approached Iraq,” asserted Rohit Pawar.

He emphasized the critical requirement of a detailed Flight Plan and proper clearances from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) of every nation involved for any VIP or international flight, attributing this lapse to VSR.

Rohit Pawar questioned whether these events were mere coincidences or part of a calculated move to jeopardize the security of Maharashtra’s top officials.

He also referenced the recent aviation tragedy involving Ajit Pawar, alleging that a reconnaissance mission had been performed by unidentified individuals prior to that incident.

“Was there an effort to target Eknath Shinde with VSR’s complicity, or was VSR acting independently? This is a grave inquiry,” he stated.

He pointed out notable discrepancies in the safety reports concerning both leaders.

It was noted that while the investigation report from 2023 bore the signature of an Assistant Director, the report concerning Ajit Pawar’s recent plane accident shockingly did not list the name of the Investigating Officer.

“Is there an intentional effort to obscure identities to enable manipulation? Why is there such bias in the investigation surrounding Ajit Pawar’s incident?” he queried.

Rohit Pawar also contended that the aircraft utilized by Ajit Pawar had a track record of “under-logging” flying hours to conceal its true wear and tear. The report indicated the plane had flown a total of 4,915 hours, yet only 250 hours were recorded in 2025, he noted.

He criticized the pilots for breaching VIP protocols by attempting to land under zero visibility conditions, despite their experience. “Was Ajit Pawar provided with a malfunctioning aircraft intentionally or accidentally? An FIR should be initiated against all officials linked to the 'Aero Group' who made these choices,” he insisted.

Rohit Pawar urged Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to come forward and elucidate the circumstances surrounding the 2023 Bahrain-Iran incident, suggesting that data from Bahrain’s aviation authorities could easily substantiate his claims.