Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Feb 17: The Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) has formally demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the plane crash that claimed the life of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
To press the demand, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought a comprehensive and independent inquiry into the January 28 crash near Baramati in Pune district.
Speaking after the meeting, state NCP president Sunil Tatkare said senior leaders, including National Working President Praful Patel, ministers Hasan Mushrif and Parth Pawar, met the Chief Minister to request a thorough probe.
“We have requested the Chief Minister to have this entire incident investigated by the CBI. The Chief Minister has assured us that the state government will write to the Union Home Minister and take the necessary steps to pursue a CBI investigation,” Tatkare said.
Meanwhile, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which is probing the crash, revealed that both voice recorders on board the Learjet 45 aircraft (registration VT-SSK) were destroyed in the post-crash fire.
According to preliminary findings released by the AAIB, the destruction of the voice recorders has complicated the investigation. The agency stated that the inquiry is being conducted strictly in line with established regulations and international aviation standards and will remain impartial and evidence-based.
The AAIB has appealed to the public and media to refrain from speculation and to await verified official updates as the probe progresses.
Ajit Pawar, 66, died along with four others when the chartered aircraft crashed while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati. He was the nephew of veteran NCP founder Sharad Pawar and cousin of Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule.
A six-time Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra across different governments, Pawar had served in the cabinets of Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. He is survived by his wife Sunetra Pawar and sons Jay and Parth Pawar.