Bengaluru: A Zero FIR filed in Bengaluru has alleged a broader criminal conspiracy behind the January 28, 2026, plane crash near Baramati Airport in Maharashtra that killed then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others.
The complaint, lodged on March 23 with the High Grounds police station by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Rajendra Pawar, claims the crash was a premeditated attempt to eliminate Ajit Pawar. It seeks to name all responsible parties as accused.
The FIR has been registered under Sections 61, 103, 105, 106, 125, 238, and 336(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police noted the delay in filing arose after previous complaints in Maharashtra were not accepted, prompting the Zero FIR in Bengaluru.
According to the complaint, the Bombardier Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited went down between 8:43 am and 8:45 am while flying from Mumbai to Baramati, killing all five on board. Previous approaches to Marine Drive Police Station on February 25 and Baramati Police Station on February 26 did not result in FIR registration, while the Pune CID reportedly examined only the accidental death report angle.
The complainant has demanded a full criminal investigation, independent of the technical probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), alleging the crash was orchestrated.
Citing a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety audit dated February 24, 2026, the FIR alleges that the VSR aircraft was negligent and unairworthy, prompting its grounding. It claims VT-SSK operated beyond safe flight hours, with logbooks underreporting actual hours and falsifying maintenance records.
Weather conditions at the time of landing are also questioned. While a flying training organisation estimated visibility at 3,000 metres, Pune METAR data indicated about 2,000 metres, and satellite imagery showed fog patches. The complaint notes that under Visual Flight Rules, landing is prohibited below 5 km visibility, yet clearance was allegedly granted.
DGCA certification irregularities are also cited, including the airworthiness certificate being issued before the registration certificate. The aircraft, previously registered in the United States as N80PQ and retired abroad, raised concerns about due diligence during import and certification in India.
The complaint highlights Chief Pilot Sumit Kapoor’s background, citing prior alcohol-related violations in 2010 and 2017, a three-year DGCA suspension, and discontinued advanced Learjet training in the US. Despite this, he was assigned to operate the flight. The originally scheduled crew was reportedly replaced at the last minute, with VSR citing traffic delays—a claim described as implausible and unsupported by evidence.
Additional points include Kapoor’s alleged financial vulnerability, a recent life insurance policy in his name, last-minute changes in Ajit Pawar’s travel plans, and a 70-minute flight delay. Operational anomalies during landing were noted, including a switch from Runway 29 to Runway 11 and the absence of a go-around attempt after a failed first approach.
In the final moments, the co-pilot reportedly exclaimed, “Oh shit, oh shit,” while the chief pilot remained silent, with no distress call or emergency response recorded.
The complaint asserts that these factors collectively indicate systematic violations, negligence, and a possible criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
With IANS inputs