Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Friday, 28 August alleged a deliberate cover-up in the investigation into the Baramati airport plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and announced he would present documentary evidence at a press conference on 4 September. The allegations, made on the seven-month anniversary of the crash, have intensified political pressure on the Maharashtra state government over the stalled probe.

What Rohit Pawar Alleged

Addressing the public through social media, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA charged that the State CID investigation has made no meaningful progress since the crash on 28 January 2026, when a VSR Aviation aircraft crashed and caught fire near the Baramati airport runway during landing, killing Ajit Pawar. Rohit Pawar pointed to two glaring procedural failures: no FIR has been registered by Maharashtra authorities, and an FIR filed in Karnataka has not been transferred to Maharashtra despite months passing.

'It has been seven months since Ajitdada passed away, yet the State CID investigation has made no progress, nor has the case been handed over to the CBI. A basic FIR has not been registered, and even the FIR filed in Karnataka has not been transferred by the Maharashtra government,' he stated.

VSR Aviation Payments Under Scrutiny

Rohit Pawar also revived earlier allegations about a sharp spike in government disbursements to VSR Aviation in the weeks surrounding the crash. He claimed that a total of ₹145 crore was reportedly disbursed to the private aviation firm within a three-month window between January and March 2026. According to his claims, ₹15.72 crore was cleared the day before the crash, ₹9.81 crore on the day of the incident, and another ₹16.86 crore the following day — against a monthly billing average of approximately ₹10 crore.

'Who is making such frantic efforts to protect VSR Aviation, and why? I will expose everything with proof in a press conference on September 4,' he added. The state government has not publicly responded to these specific financial allegations.

Background: The Baramati Crash and Probe Demands

The crash on 28 January 2026 claimed the life of Ajit Pawar, a towering figure in Maharashtra politics who had served as Deputy Chief Minister. The VSR Aviation aircraft went down near the Baramati airport runway during landing and burst into flames. In the months that followed, Rohit Pawar has repeatedly demanded that the probe be elevated — either to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a dedicated State CID team — citing what he describes as administrative reluctance to pursue a rigorous inquiry.

This is not the first time he has flagged concerns over VSR Aviation's financial dealings with the state. His earlier disclosures about the fund spike drew attention but did not prompt any publicly announced investigative action.

Political Fallout and What Comes Next

Political observers across Maharashtra are closely watching the 4 September press conference, at which Rohit Pawar has promised concrete documentary proof. The allegations place the ruling dispensation in an uncomfortable position — any further delay in a credible investigation risks deepening public suspicion of institutional protection for VSR Aviation. Whether the state government responds before that date, or the Centre steps in with a CBI referral, will determine the next phase of this politically charged case.