Sunetra Pawar Seeks CBI Probe Into Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Plane Crash Amid Conspiracy Allegations
Sunetra Pawar Seeks CBI Probe Into Ajit Pawar’s Fatal Plane Crash Amid Conspiracy Allegations
Mumbai, February 18, 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday called for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the January 28 Learjet crash in Baramati that claimed the life of senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others.
Sunetra Pawar, accompanied by prominent Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders including Sunil Tatkare, Praful Patel, Hassan Mushrif and her son Parth Pawar, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai and submitted a formal letter demanding a federal-level investigation into the crash.
The demand follows statements made earlier this month by NCP (SP) leader Rohit Pawar, who alleged that the crash may not have been accidental. On February 10, he publicly suggested the possibility of sabotage and presented a detailed account of events leading up to the incident, raising concerns about last-minute schedule changes, the timing of landing procedures, and the replacement of the pilot shortly before departure. He also referred to conversations involving Flight Captain Sumit Kapoor and questioned the role of a private aviation firm linked to the aircraft’s operations.
The crash occurred on January 28 in Baramati, Pune district, involving a Learjet 45 aircraft bearing registration VT-SSK. Ajit Pawar and four others lost their lives in the incident.
Earlier in the day, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) issued an update on the ongoing probe. The agency stated that the investigation is being conducted under the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, and in line with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) under Annex 13 guidelines.
According to a statement released through the Press Information Bureau, the aircraft was equipped with two independent flight recorders — a Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and a Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Both devices were subjected to prolonged exposure to intense heat during the crash and sustained significant fire damage. Officials said technical analysis is ongoing to retrieve usable data.
While the AAIB continues its statutory investigation, the renewed political demand for a CBI inquiry signals growing pressure for a broader and possibly independent examination of the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
