24 March,2026 09:30 PM IST | Bengaluru | mid-day online correspondent
Baramati plane crash killed 5 including Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. (File pic)
In a significant development in the Baramati plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Karnataka State Police have registered a Zero FIR alleging a larger criminal conspiracy behind the incident.
While the case has been registered in Bengaluru, despite the incident occurring in Maharashtra. The FIR will be transferred to the Maharashtra Police for detailed investigation.
As per the FIR registered in Bengaluru, the case has been filed under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to culpable homicide, negligence, and criminal conspiracy.
The FIR was registered on March 23 at High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru after the complainant, Rohit Pawar, nephew of the deceased, approached authorities, claiming that earlier attempts to lodge a complaint in Maharashtra were not accepted.
The fatal plane crash occurred on January 28, 2026, when a chartered plane, operated by a private firm, crashed near Baramati Airport in the Pune district. The aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati, and all five persons, including Ajit Pawar, on board were killed.
Others deceased included pilot Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, airline staff Pinky Mali, and police officer Vidip Jadhav.
The complaint filed by NCP leader Rohit Pawar alleges that the crash was not merely accidental but the result of a "larger criminal conspiracy" aimed at eliminating the senior politician. The FIR further cites multiple instances of alleged negligence and violations of aviation safety norms.
Rohit Pawar further alleged that the aircraft was reportedly operating close to or beyond its permissible engine usage limits, raising concerns about mechanical safety.
FIR filed on March 23 also noted that flight logs may have been falsified to conceal actual flying hours, potentially exceeding safe operational thresholds.
The FIR registered in Bengaluru also states, "Irregularities were flagged in certification records, including discrepancies in airworthiness and registration timelines."
The complaint also raises concerns about the background of the pilot, citing previous alcohol-related violations and questioning his assignment to such a high-profile flight.
The FIR points to several unusual developments on the day of the crash, including a last-minute change in crew, unexplained delays in departure, and a sudden runway switch during the landing approach at Baramati.
It also notes that no distress call or emergency response was recorded from the pilot in the final moments of the flight, while the co-pilot was heard expressing panic.
