Mumbai: The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) has formally begun its investigation into the plane crash near Baramati that resulted in the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, a senior official confirmed on Friday.
State police authorities have transferred the accidental death case related to the January 28 crash to the CID. The case was initially registered by the Pune Rural Police under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Officials said the move aims to ensure a comprehensive and independent probe into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Ajit Pawar, 66, was travelling from Mumbai to his hometown Baramati in Pune district when the Learjet 45 aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning. The plane went down barely 200 metres from the tabletop airstrip at Baramati, leaving no survivors among those on board.
Along with Pawar, the crash claimed the lives of Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had over 15,000 hours of flying experience, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak with approximately 1,500 flying hours, Pawar’s personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
Officials said a CID team has already begun collecting documents and records from the Pune Rural Police. The investigators are also expected to conduct a detailed inspection of the crash site near the Baramati airstrip as part of the inquiry.
According to sources, the CID probe will also examine the possibility of any sabotage or technical interference with the aircraft before it departed from Mumbai. Authorities have indicated that all angles will be thoroughly assessed to establish the exact cause of the crash.
In parallel, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), functioning under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has launched a separate statutory investigation into the incident, as mandated under aviation safety norms.
