Rohit Pawar petitions CID over Ajit Pawar air crash probe, flags ₹145 crore VSR payments
NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Rohit Rajendra Pawar on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, formally petitioned the Additional Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Maharashtra, seeking an urgent status update on the ongoing investigation into the January 28, 2026 fatal air crash involving Ajit Pawar. The petition also requests the recording of an additional statement under Section 180 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and raises serious allegations of financial irregularities, safety violations, and suspicious payments to aviation company VSR.
Background and Case Transfer
A Zero FIR was initially registered at High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru on 23 March 2026. Following an announcement by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the State Assembly, the case was transferred to the Maharashtra CID. Rohit Pawar's petition now formally seeks a progress report on this transferred investigation, underlining what he described as an urgent need for accountability.
Safety Violations and Technical Lapses Alleged
The petition highlights critical safety concerns surrounding VSR, the company that operated the aircraft involved in the crash. According to Rohit Pawar, visibility at Baramati airport on the day of the crash was reportedly below the mandated 3 km threshold. Despite warnings from Chief Pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, it is alleged that the company's owner pressured the crew to proceed with the flight.
Rohit Pawar also cited a more recent incident on 25 April 2026, in which a VSR Learjet (VT-VRR) bound for Dubai experienced a takeoff failure due to flap malfunctions. He argued this reinforces a pattern of operating what he termed
