4 minutes of readingBombayFebruary 2, 2026 07:43 pm IST
days later plane crash in Baramati which claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, opposition leaders on Monday raised a series of questions about the circumstances surrounding the incident and demanded a probe.
Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut said Pawar had publicly stated on January 15 that he was in possession of files allegedly related to corruption involving Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and would make them public. Raut described it as “mysterious” that Pawar died in a plane crash between 10 and 13 days after making the statement.
Raut also disputed reports that certain documents found near Ajit Pawar’s seat remained intact despite a fire that allegedly destroyed most of the planes and bodies. He said the documents could have been important and raised questions about how they survived the crash.
Additionally, Raut questioned whether the aircraft had a valid maintenance clearance and why, according to him, standard safety protocols for a leader of Ajit Pawar’s stature were not followed. Referring to the questions raised earlier by NCP MLC Amol Mitkari, Raut said they reflected public doubts that needed to be addressed.
“I am sure that this was not an accident and that Ajit Dada was 100% betrayed. For this reason, I will continue this fight as long as I am alive. After Dada’s demise, I have decided to dedicate my personal life to the loyalty of his family,” Mitkari had said on Sunday.
Raut said he was not directly accusing anyone, but drew parallels with the death of Judge BH Loya, stating that the circumstances surrounding the incident deserved closer scrutiny. He announced that he would raise the issue in Parliament, including in Rajya Sabhaand press for accountability until all questions have been answered.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Vijay Wadetti was also expressed suspicions over what he termed the accidental death of Ajit Pawar. Raising doubts about the incident, Wadettiwar said, “Something smells bad,” while backing the concerns flagged by Mitkari.
Story continues below this ad.
Wadetti was asked specifically about replacing the plane’s pilot at the last minute. “The question remains why the pilot was changed at the last minute,” he said. He further stated, “The pilot whose name was originally listed is still alive because he could not arrive on time or was replaced by another pilot named Kapoor.”
Wadetti also demanded an investigation to uncover what he described as the mystery behind the incident.
The Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched a formal inquiry into the plane crash near Baramati and assured the Maharashtra government that the investigation will be carried out in a comprehensive, transparent and time-bound manner.
In a letter to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis On January 29, Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu Kinjarapu said an investigation had been launched into the incident. According to the letter, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation under the Aircraft Accident and Incident Rules. Teams from the AAIB and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached the crash site soon after the incident, and the plane’s black box was recovered and secured for detailed examination.