Investigation Demands Surge Following Fatal Baramati Plane Crash of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | March 13, 2026

The fatal crash of a Learjet 45XR on January 28, 2026, which claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, has ignited a firestorm of political allegations and urgent demands for technical accountability. As the state’s administrative machinery grapples with the loss of a “quintessential kingmaker,” the integrity of the ongoing investigation has become a central point of contention.

Family and Political Allies Demand CBI Probe: Jay Pawar, the son of the late leader, has adopted a posture of “aggressive technical skepticism,” insisting that the flight’s black box should have remained intact and demanding a total ban on the operator, VSR Ventures Private Limited. In a strategic move to ensure transparency, newly appointed Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar and other NCP leaders have formally approached Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to request a CBI-led investigation.

Allegations of Sabotage and Political Foul Play: The investigation is increasingly shadowed by claims of sabotage. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has alleged that the crash fits a pattern of “solved” political problems, linking the event to reported threats involving “Sinchan (irrigation) scam” files just ten days prior to the tragedy. Raut further suggested that Ajit Pawar was secretly negotiating a reunion of NCP factions, which would have posed a terminal threat to his current alliance partners.

Also Read:

[ “Something Dubious”: Sanjay Raut Demands Investigation into Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Plane Crash ]

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[ A Risk Analysis of Suspicious Deaths Among Global Political Figures ]

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has also spearheaded charges of negligence, highlighting the pilot’s checkered history, which includes a three-year suspension for alcohol consumption. This detail has transformed the “pilot error” theory into a potential vector for foul play in the eyes of many skeptics.

Technical Hurdles and Institutional Skepticism: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has reportedly hit a wall, stating that “specialized support” is required to extract data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). This admission has fueled suspicions regarding whether the device was damaged by the impact or tampered with before takeoff. Such technical delays are being viewed through a lens of deep institutional skepticism, with critics drawing parallels to other high-profile “mysterious” deaths, such as those of Judge B.H. Loya and Gopinath Munde.

Rahul Gandhi’s Intervention and Criticism: On March 12, 2026, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi joined the calls for a “fair, transparent, and impartial investigation” after meeting with Rohit Pawar. Gandhi noted that basic principles of law appear to have been ignored, as no FIR has been registered despite the seriousness of the incident. However, some critics have labeled Gandhi’s response as “weak,” arguing that his social media statements are “meaningless” and lack the concrete steps necessary to challenge the current regime.

The Road Ahead: While Chief Minister Fadnavis has dismissed claims of political conspiracy as “fiction,” the government continues to face a crisis of public trust. The outcome of the investigation now hinges on whether the AAIB can recover data that provides a definitive cause for the crash—be it technical failure or sabotage—as any perceived “narrative management” may further destabilize the Mahayuti alliance.