A Zero FIR has been registered at Bengaluru Central Police Station on a complaint by Maharashtra MLA Rohit Rajendra Pawar alleging a criminal conspiracy behind the death of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a recent plane crash.
“The complainant approached various police stations in Maharashtra, but they refused to register an FIR. Hence, Zero FIR was registered in Bengaluru,” said a senior police officer.
An FIR was registered at the High Grounds police station on March 23 and was later transferred to the Baramati Rural Police in Maharashtra for further investigation.
Any police station may register a zero first information report if the said offense did not occur in its jurisdiction and forward it to the concerned police station.
Crash background
Ajit Pawar and four others were killed on 28 January 2026 when a Bombardier Learjet 45 (VT-SSK), operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed near Baramati Airport in Pune district on a flight from Mumbai.
In a complaint filed under Section 173(1) of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Mr. Rohit Pawar, nephew of Ajit Pawar, said that he had approached the Marine Drive and Baramati police stations earlier in February, but no FIR was registered. He also claimed that the Pune CID was only looking into the accidental death report (ADR) angle, prompting him to seek a wider criminal investigation independent of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Charges of conspiracy
The complainant alleged that the crash was the result of a “larger criminal conspiracy” aimed at removing a senior leader. The FIR alleges that there were systematic violations of aviation safety norms, falsification of records and gross negligence in maintenance and operations which directly led to the deaths.
The complaint cited the findings of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) which allegedly found the VSR aircraft negligent and unfit to fly, leading to their grounding during investigations.
According to the FIR, the aircraft was operated close to the mandatory engine overhaul limit of 5,000 flight hours. It allegedly understated flight hours, with claims suggesting actual usage may have exceeded 8,000 hours. The certification records showed anomalies, including the issuance of an airworthiness certificate before the aircraft was registered, the FIR claimed. The complainant also raised concerns about the aircraft’s prior use abroad, stating that it had been decommissioned in the United States prior to deployment to operations in India.
Weather and landing
The FIR pointed to discrepancies in visibility at the time of landing. While informal assessments suggested visibility of 3,000 metres, the official METAR data was said to have given around 2,000 meters with fog – less than the minimum required for visual flight rules (VFR).
Despite this, clearance to land was reportedly granted, raising questions about compliance and operational decision-making.
Mr. Rohit Pawar claimed that the originally planned crew was changed at the last minute, citing “traffic delays”, which he described as unlikely. The plane was piloted by Captain Sumit Kapoor, who, according to the complaint, had a history of liquor-related violations and a previous suspension from the DGCA.
The FIR also states that in the final moments before the crash, the co-pilot gave a distress call while the lead pilot remained silent without making a distress call or taking corrective action.
The complaint cited several “unusual factors” such as a departure delay of approximately 70 minutes, a last-minute change of runway before landing, etc.
The FIR also cited the DGCA safety audit report which claimed and admitted that VSR’s aircraft were found negligent, unairworthy and hence grounded.
“The VT-SSK aircraft was operated in systematic violation of mandatory safety standards. More seriously, the investigation revealed that the VSR allegedly understated the aircraft’s actual flight hours in the official logbooks. Credible information indicates that the aircraft may have actually accumulated more than 8,000 hours, well beyond its certified safe operating limits,” the FIR noted.
Published – 24 March 2026 23:32 IST
