Supriya Sule slams Maharashtra govt over no FIR in Ajit Pawar crash case
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Working President and Member of Parliament Supriya Sule on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Maharashtra state government and the ruling NCP faction, demanding accountability over the absence of an FIR in the fatal plane crash that killed her brother and former Deputy Chief Minister, the late Ajit Pawar. Sule made the remarks at a press conference at the party office in Thane.
The FIR Question
Sule drew a pointed contrast between the speed of police action in a politically sensitive case and the perceived inaction surrounding her brother's death. She noted that a case was registered against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray within two hours of him allegedly removing a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
'When a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is removed, a case is registered against Amit Thackeray within two hours. On the other hand, no FIR has been lodged yet in the death case of my brother Ajit Pawar,' she said.
Sule expressed frustration over the opacity of the ongoing probe. 'My brother met with such a major aviation accident. He was the sitting Deputy Chief Minister of the state, yet the government has not filed a single case. We have no idea where the probe stands or what its status is,' she stated.
Ruling NCP Allies Under Fire
Sule reserved particular criticism for the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, which is part of the ruling coalition in Maharashtra. She alleged that its 40 MLAs and 9 ministers have remained silent on the investigation despite having been close associates of the late leader.
'My brother is gone, but these people continue to enjoy the fruits of power without seeking justice for him,' she alleged. The charge underscores a deepening fault line between the two NCP factions — one in government, the other in opposition — over how the crash has been handled.
Broader Grievances Against the Government
Sule broadened her attack to cover several public issues. On infrastructure, she ridiculed the state of roads across Maharashtra, saying commuters can no longer distinguish between roads with potholes and potholes with roads. She also flagged opposition from Kolhapur farmers against the Shaktipeeth Highway project, accusing the government of imposing costly schemes on citizens without consent.
Opposing the proposed Thane Ring Metro, she questioned the rationale of a project reportedly worth ₹1,00,000 when she argued equivalent work could be done for ₹500, and demanded the government prioritise basic bus services instead.
On the cost of living, Sule noted that milk prices have crossed ₹100 per litre, questioning how ordinary taxpayers are expected to manage with no government relief despite heavy tax burdens.
Electoral and Legal Concerns
Sule revealed that her party is monitoring voter lists daily to track names that have been arbitrarily deleted or altered — a signal that NCP (SP) is preparing closely for upcoming electoral cycles. She also lamented the repeated delays in court proceedings related to the party's legitimacy dispute, invoking the phrase 'tareekh pe tareekh' to describe the cycle of endless adjournments.
With no FIR filed and no official timeline for the probe, pressure on the Maharashtra government over the Ajit Pawar crash case is unlikely to ease in the days ahead.