Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) legislator Rohit Pawar on Wednesday visited the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai to file a first information report (FIR) in connection with the Ajit Pawar plane crash case. However, he alleged that senior officers refused to register his complaint.
Addressing reporters, Rohit Pawar said that a junior officer authorised to register an FIR was present, along with the senior police inspector (PI). He claimed that after discussions, the officers brought a laptop and began the process of printing the FIR. However, a higher-ranking officer, the additional deputy commissioner of police (DCP), later arrived and refused to register it, news agency ANI reported.
“We came to the Marine Drive police station to file an FIR. After arriving at the police station, a junior police officer — `junior` meaning an officer who is authorised to register an FIR — was present. The senior PI was also there. After talking to them and convincing them, they brought a laptop and started the process of printing our FIR. Then a higher officer, the Additional DCP, arrived and said that this FIR could not be registered. But see, according to the new act, any FIR regarding a cognizable offence has to be registered. It is the right of every individual who is a citizen of this country,” he said.
अजितदादांच्या विमान अपघाताबाबत योग्य कारवाईची वाट बघत असतानाच काल या अपघातास VSR कंपनीचा निष्काळजीपणा कारणीभूत असल्याचा DGCA चा अहवाल आला. परंतु अद्यापही याबाबत कोणताही FIR दाखल करण्यात आला नसल्याने या अहवालाच्या आधारे आ. अमोल मिटकरी, आ. इद्रिस नाईकवडी आणि आ. संदिप क्षीरसागर… pic.twitter.com/T1W5sJS9ji
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) February 25, 2026
Earlier, before visiting the police station, Rohit Pawar said the FIRs were intended against multiple parties: associates of VSR Company, DGCA officials involved, the company ARROW which approved the flight, and officials within ARROW with links to the state government.
A fifth FIR would remain unnamed, as the case is being treated as a criminal conspiracy, ANI reported.
“We plan to file an FIR against VSR`s associates, against the DGCA officials involved, against the company ARROW which gave the flight approval, and against the officials in ARROW`s group who are connected to the state government. The fifth FIR will remain unnamed, as people are calling this a case of criminal conspiracy,” said Rohit Pawar.
Ajit Pawar death: Rohit Pawar alleges VSR links with Aviation Minister, BJP leaders
He also alleged links between VSR and Union Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, claiming that due to these connections, as well as close relationships between VSR and several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, no direct action had been taken against the company.
Rohit Pawar added that since Ajit Pawar’s death, it remained unclear whether the crash was deliberate or accidental, and this must be investigated.
“The TDP party leader, who is now serving as the Aviation Minister, is currently in position, and due to some connections between his company and VSR, as well as the close relationships many BJP leaders have with VSR, direct action against VSR is not being taken. Our leader, Ajit Pawar, has passed away, and whether this was deliberate or an accident needs to be investigated,” he said.
Speaking on the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) report of January 28, Rohit Pawar said it had technically given a clean chit to VSR. He reiterated that his party had demanded the Civil Aviation Minister’s resignation and continues to do so. Rohit Pawar stated that the clarification issued recently was largely due to public and media pressure, which compelled the DGCA and the minister’s office to respond.
“Now, if you look at the DGCA report of 28 January, technically, they gave a clean chit. After that, I want to say to the minister: previously, we had demanded that you should resign, and we still maintain that demand. Our position remains that the Aviation Minister of India should resign as soon as possible. On that day, the minister indirectly gave VSR a clean chit. The DGCA issued their report on 28 January, and after that, the minister gave a statement. Now, if you look at why the report came out yesterday, we can point to several reasons: first, the growing pressure from people, then the media pressure, which in turn put pressure on the DGCA, on the minister, on the minister`s party, and on those in power. They issued the clarification yesterday, but if you look closely, this clarification is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
DGCA had ordered a special safety audit of M/s VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd following the fatal crash of a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) at Baramati on January 28, which claimed five lives, including that of 66-year-old Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
The aircraft went down near the runway threshold, killing all five on board, including Ajit Pawar, his personal security officer, a flight attendant, and two pilots. Ajit Pawar had been travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for the zilla panchayat elections.
(With ANI inputs)
