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Pawar said several aspects of the incident raise doubts and deserve closer scrutiny, especially since the incident involved a senior public figure.
Rohit Pawar outlined fresh concerns in a detailed PowerPoint presentation to the media on Tuesday.
Even as the state continues to come to terms with the tragic death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, fresh questions have been raised by his nephew and MLA Rohit Pawar, who has called for a deeper and more transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the aircraft crash.
Speaking during a detailed PowerPoint presentation to the media, Rohit Pawar said several aspects of the incident raise doubts and deserve closer scrutiny, especially since the incident involved a senior public figure.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28 while travelling in a private Learjet aircraft operated by VSR Aviation.
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Rohit Pawar pointed out that Ajit Pawar was originally scheduled to travel by road, but circumstances changed at the last moment, leading to air travel instead. He questioned whether there was any deliberate planning behind this sudden change.
Last-Minute Pilot Swap
The NCP (SP) leader also flagged the last-minute replacement of both pilots and sought clarity on who certified the aircraft’s maintenance and why those reports have not yet been made public.
“Why was the main pilot changed before the flight? Sahil Madan and Yash were replaced at the last minute. Why did Sumit Kapoor return from Hong Kong? Was he under the influence of alcohol when he boarded?” he asked.
He added that Kapoor’s past record raised questions, citing pre-flight alcohol tests in 2010 and 2017 and missed training in the U.S. due to drinking. Rohit Pawar also called for an investigation into internal WhatsApp chats of the VSR company regarding pilots’ sobriety.
Raising concerns over the sequence of events during the flight, Rohit Pawar asked why no distress call was issued by the pilot and why the aircraft’s transponder was reportedly inactive at the time of the crash. He questioned whether technical failures were involved and whether the aircraft had undergone proper inspections before take-off.
He demanded that the investigation should not be limited to domestic agencies alone and suggested that international aviation authorities from countries such as France or the United States be involved to ensure credibility and transparency.
He also referred to information related to the aircraft’s age, previous incidents involving the same company, and alleged gaps in standard operating procedures. According to Rohit Pawar, issues such as maintenance practices, pilot duty hours, fuel policies, and the functioning of safety warning systems must be examined thoroughly.
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He further questioned why reports from earlier incidents involving the same operator were never made public and whether those lapses contributed to the fatal crash.
While acknowledging the painful reality that Ajit Pawar is no longer alive, Rohit Pawar said unanswered questions will continue to trouble the family and the public unless a time-bound, independent probe is conducted.
He stressed that the aim is not speculation but accountability, adding that clarity is essential to ensure such incidents do not recur, especially when senior leaders continue to use private charter services.
February 10, 2026, 17:48 IST
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