PUNE: In a tragic turn of events, the Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station concerning the plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Authorities revealed that investigations into the causes of the mishap are still underway, with teams from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) actively probing the site.
Police sources indicate a comprehensive examination of all aspects linked to the incident. The ADR will be forwarded to the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which will conduct further inquiries based on the AAIB’s findings. Meanwhile, preparations for Ajit Pawar’s last rites have begun in his ancestral village of Kathewadi, Baramati. The funeral rites, including the mukhagni, are scheduled for 11 AM at Vidya Pratisthan Ground in Baramati.
A steady stream of family members, relatives, and supporters has gathered at the Pawar family farm in Kathewadi to pay their respects. Political heavyweights, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, are expected to attend the funeral. In response to the shocking loss, the state government has declared a three-day period of state mourning, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast on all government buildings.
The ill-fated Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures, carried not only Pawar but also his Personal Security Officer, a flight attendant, and two crew members—a Pilot-in-Command and a Second-in-Command—at the time of the crash. The victims have been identified as Vidit Jadhav and Pinky Mali among the passengers, with crew members Sumit Kapoor (PIC) and Shambhavi Pathak (SIC).
As Maharashtra mourns one of its prominent leaders, questions swirl around the aviation safety lapses that led to this disaster. The ongoing probes promise to uncover critical insights, potentially reshaping air travel regulations in the region. Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise leaves a massive void in state politics, where his influence spanned decades.