Mumbai: Nearly three weeks after the fatal aircraft crash near Baramati that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday questioned the delay in the release of the preliminary investigation report and demanded action against the aircraft operator.
“Today marks the 20th day since the unfortunate accident of my late uncle, yet the preliminary inquiry report from the DGCA has not been made public. No action has been initiated against VSR, which operates flights in violation of rules. This delay is raising doubts. The DGCA must release the preliminary findings at the earliest and take suitable action,” Rohit Pawar said.
The crash took place on January 28 near Baramati airport in Pune district when a Learjet 45 went down while attempting to land. Ajit Pawar had departed from Mumbai earlier that day for his hometown, where he was scheduled to address public meetings ahead of the Zila Parishad elections.
Also killed in the accident were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had logged over 15,000 flying hours, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak with around 1,500 hours of experience, Personal Security Officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aircraft bearing registration VT-SSK was a Learjet 45 manufactured in 2010 and operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, a non-scheduled operator with a valid permit. The company operates a fleet of 17 aircraft, including seven Learjet 45 jets.
A regulatory audit conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in February 2025 reportedly found no Level-I safety violations in the company’s operations. Both pilots held valid licences and medical clearances and had recently completed mandatory proficiency and instrument rating checks.
However, with 20 days having passed since the crash, the absence of a preliminary report has led to mounting political questions and public scrutiny over the pace of the investigation.
