Fadnavis writes to Amit Shah, seeks CBI probe into Ajit Pawar plane crash

The Maharashtra government has formally sought a CBI investigation into the plane crash that claimed the life of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar last month, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference ahead of the state budget session, Fadnavis confirmed that he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah requesting a Central Bureau of Investigation probe to ensure complete transparency . Alongside the ongoing inquiries by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the state CID, he said a CBI investigation would help clear all doubts surrounding the tragedy.

Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on January 28 when a chartered Learjet 45 aircraft crashed while attempting to land near Baramati in Pune district. The incident triggered political shockwaves across Maharashtra.

NCP leader Rohit Pawar has raised allegations of possible foul play and written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding that Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu step aside until the inquiry concludes. Questions have also been raised about VSR, the company that owned the aircraft.

Fadnavis said the DGCA is conducting an audit of the company and scrutinising its logbooks. Urging restraint, he stressed that speculation must be avoided until official reports are released. He added that the probe is crucial not only to establish facts but also to ensure the safety of political leaders who frequently use chartered aircraft.

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar reiterated the demand for a thorough and impartial investigation , stating that the government is committed to following up on every aspect of the case.

With multiple agencies now involved, attention turns to whether the expanded probe will bring clarity to a tragedy that has deeply impacted the state’s political landscape.