Bengaluru, March 25 (NationPress) The Karnataka Police has officially handed over the 'Zero FIR' registered in Bengaluru regarding the tragic plane crash involving the late NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, to the Maharashtra Police. Accompanying the transfer are the case file and all pertinent documents.

The Karnataka Police have urged the Maharashtra Police to transfer the case to the jurisdictional Baramati Rural Police Station located in Pune district, Maharashtra.

The Karnataka Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Crime and Technical Services, P. Harishekaran, has communicated this request to the Maharashtra Director General of Police.

It's important to note that the Zero FIR, which was lodged in Bengaluru, alleged a broader criminal conspiracy behind the plane crash that occurred on January 28, 2026, near Baramati Airport, resulting in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four others.

The complaint was initiated on March 23 at the High Grounds Police Station by NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Rajendra Pawar, who is the nephew of the deceased. The complaint asserts that the crash was orchestrated as a conspiracy to assassinate Ajit Pawar and seeks to hold all involved parties accountable.

In his correspondence, ADGP Harishekaran noted: “Enclosed you will find the case file of the Zero FIR registered at Bengaluru City High Grounds Police Station under Sections 61, 103, 105, 106, 125, 238, and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), for transfer to Baramati Rural Police Station, Pune district, Maharashtra.”

He has also requested that the case be transferred to the Baramati Rural Police Station on jurisdictional grounds, along with a confirmation of receipt for the case file and related documents.

As previously mentioned, the High Grounds police registered the FIR under Sections 61, 103, 105, 106, 125, 238, and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The delay in filing was attributed to the complainant's attempts to report the incident at various police stations in Maharashtra, where his complaint was not accepted, leading him to file a Zero FIR in Bengaluru.

Rohit Pawar has claimed that he first sought to register a case in Maharashtra, specifically at the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai and the Baramati Police Station. When those efforts were unsuccessful, he proceeded to file the FIR in Bengaluru.

The complaint details that the crash occurred between 8:43 A.M. and 8:45 A.M. when a Bombardier Learjet 45 aircraft, bearing registration VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed while en route from Mumbai to Baramati, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals on board.

The FIR, filed under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, indicates that earlier attempts to register a case at the Marine Drive Police Station on February 25 and at the Baramati Police Station on February 26 did not lead to an FIR being filed, while the Pune CID stated it was only investigating the Accidental Death Report angle.

The complainant has called for a comprehensive criminal investigation, independent of the technical probe being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), alleging that the crash was part of a deliberate scheme to eliminate Ajit Pawar.

The FIR references findings from a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety audit conducted on February 24, 2026, which reportedly identified VSR aircraft as negligent and unairworthy, leading to their grounding.

It alleges that the aircraft VT-SSK was operated in violation of safety protocols, having logged approximately 4,915 flight hours, nearing the mandatory engine overhaul limit of 5,000 hours.

The complaint further alleges that actual flight hours may have exceeded 8,000 due to under-reporting in official logbooks, which suggests falsification of maintenance records and the continued operation of an unsafe aircraft.

Concerns about the weather conditions during landing have also been raised. While a flying training organisation estimated visibility at 3,000 metres, Pune METAR data indicated approximately 2,000 metres with mist, and satellite imagery depicted fog patches.

Under Visual Flight Rules, landings are not permitted with visibility less than 5 kilometres, yet clearance was allegedly granted.

The complaint also questions the DGCA certification records, noting that the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate was issued on December 16, 2021, prior to its registration certificate on December 27, 2022, which is contrary to standard procedure.

Additionally, it highlights that the aircraft was previously registered in the United States as N80PQ and was reportedly retired from service abroad, raising concerns about the diligence exercised during its import and certification in India.

The complaint also scrutinizes the conduct and background of Chief Pilot Sumit Kapoor, who had previous alcohol-related infractions in 2010 and 2017, resulting in a three-year suspension from the DGCA, and had discontinued advanced Learjet training in the US due to alcohol issues. Despite this history, he was assigned to operate the flight.

It has been noted that the originally scheduled crew was replaced at the last moment, with VSR claiming the initial crew was delayed due to traffic.

The explanation has been characterized as implausible and unsupported by evidence.

Moreover, the complaint alleges that Kapoor’s financial difficulties and past record made him vulnerable to coercion, and it claims a life insurance policy was recently taken out in his name.

Additional irregularities include a change in Ajit Pawar's travel plans, who had initially intended to travel by road on January 27 but remained in Mumbai. The flight itself was delayed by approximately 70 minutes from its scheduled 7 AM departure.

Operational anomalies during landing are also cited, such as a switch from the initially requested Runway 29 to Runway 11 shortly before landing, as well as the absence of a go-around attempt despite a failed first approach.

In the final moments recorded, the co-pilot reportedly exclaimed, “Oh shit, oh shit,” while the chief pilot remained silent, with no distress call or emergency response documented.

The complaint argues that these factors collectively indicate systematic violations, negligence, and a potential criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and seeks accountability for all involved parties.