Ajit Pawar plane crash 'a conspiracy, not accident': NCP spokesperson
Synopsis
NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil has called Ajit Pawar's Baramati plane crash a 'conspiracy, not an accident' — a claim NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar is set to back with phone records and technical evidence at a Mumbai press conference on 14 or 15 November. With Shiv Sena also naming NCP's Sunil Tatkare and no FIR filed nearly ten months after the crash, Maharashtra's political temperature is rising fast.
Key Takeaways
NCP spokesperson Umesh Patil on 11 November 2026 called the death of former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar a suspected 'conspiracy, not an accident.' The VSR Ventures Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026 , killing Ajit Pawar.
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar will hold a press conference in Mumbai on 14 or 15 November , promising phone records and technical evidence.
Rohit Pawar alleged that 90 per cent of Maharashtra suspects foul play and criticised agencies for proceeding 'at a snail's pace' with no formal FIR filed.
Senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam has demanded an inquiry into NCP Maharashtra President Sunil Tatkare over the crash.
Investigative agency reports are still awaited; the political and legal fallout is expected to intensify after Rohit Pawar's planned disclosure.
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief National Spokesperson Umesh Patil on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, alleged that the plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was not a mere accident but a suspected conspiracy. Patil's remarks have deepened the political storm surrounding the crash of a VSR Ventures Learjet 45 near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026, which claimed Ajit Pawar's life.
What NCP's Umesh Patil Said
'Based on my close association and observations of various things, and considering the sequence of events during the tragedy and the potential reasons behind it, I feel that this was not an accident, but a conspiracy,' Patil stated. He added that appropriate follow-up is underway on the right platform, with Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar also actively pursuing the matter.
Patil, however, exercised caution on specifics, noting that the incident involves multiple technical aspects and that it would not be appropriate to comment further until reports from relevant investigative agencies are released.
Rohit Pawar's Press Conference Announcement
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar announced that he will hold a major press conference in Mumbai on 14 or 15 November, describing it as his 'most important presentation.' He stated he plans to present key evidence, phone records, and technical observations surrounding the final moments of the flight.
'The revelations I am going to make in that regard will definitely be surprising for you,' Rohit Pawar said. He also alleged that 90 per cent of people in Maharashtra suspect the crash was not an accident, characterising it as a potential case of sabotage. 'We suspect that Ajit Pawar's accident was a case of sabotage. But the people in power are not dispelling that suspicion,' he said.
Criticism of the Investigation
Rohit Pawar sharply criticised the state government and investigating agencies for moving at a 'saintly pace' and failing to register a formal FIR. 'The investigation is not going in the right direction,' he alleged, adding that the probe into 'Ajit Dada' is proceeding 'at a snail's pace.' He further claimed that if an FIR is not filed, it would indicate that the ruling party is protecting whoever is responsible.
'We are also starting to have doubts about the investigation. The people in power are deliberately not investigating properly,' he alleged.
Shiv Sena's Allegations Against Sunil Tatkare
The latest remarks come against the backdrop of allegations by senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam, who had directly demanded an inquiry into NCP Maharashtra President and MP Sunil Tatkare over the plane crash, levelling serious allegations against him. Rohit Pawar said he had not personally heard Kadam's specific accusations, but maintained that the investigation is not being conducted as it should be.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
The intensifying allegations from multiple NCP factions are set to further roil Maharashtra's already fractious political landscape. With Rohit Pawar's press conference scheduled for 14 or 15 November promising new disclosures, and investigative agencies yet to release their final reports, the political and legal dimensions of the Baramati crash are likely to escalate. All eyes will be on what evidence, if any, is formally placed before authorities in the coming days.
Point of View
The absence of an FIR is itself a political fact — one that every accuser is now exploiting. Patil's framing of a 'gut feeling' as a news event reflects how thin the evidential threshold has become in Maharashtra's fractured NCP politics. The more significant moment will be Rohit Pawar's 14/15 November press conference: if he produces verifiable phone records or technical data, it forces the hand of agencies that have so far treated the case as a technical inquiry rather than a potential crime. If he does not, the conspiracy narrative may collapse under its own weight — but only after doing considerable political damage to the ruling coalition.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Ajit Pawar plane crash?
A VSR Ventures Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati Airport on 28 January 2026, killing former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The crash has since become the subject of intense political controversy, with NCP leaders alleging it may not have been an accident.
What did NCP's Umesh Patil allege about the crash?
NCP Chief National Spokesperson Umesh Patil said on 11 November 2026 that, based on his close association with Ajit Pawar and his observations of the sequence of events, he believes the crash was 'a conspiracy, not an accident.' He added that Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar are actively pursuing the matter.
What is Rohit Pawar planning to reveal at his press conference?
NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has announced a press conference in Mumbai on 14 or 15 November 2026, which he describes as his 'most important presentation.' He says he will present key evidence, phone records, and technical observations about the final moments of the flight.
Why is the investigation being criticised?
Rohit Pawar and other NCP leaders have alleged that the investigation is proceeding 'at a snail's pace' and that no formal FIR has been filed despite widespread public suspicion. Rohit Pawar has claimed that the state government is deliberately slowing down the probe.
Who is Sunil Tatkare and what are the allegations against him?
Sunil Tatkare is the NCP Maharashtra President and a Member of Parliament. Senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam has directly demanded an inquiry into Tatkare in connection with the Baramati plane crash, though Rohit Pawar said he had not heard the specific nature of those allegations.
