20 days after Baramati crash, Rohit Pawar seeks DGCA report, questions silence on VSR
Pawar and four others were killed after their aircraft crashed near Baramati on January 28
Twenty days after the fatal Baramati aircraft crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Monday questioned the delay in the release of the preliminary inquiry report and sought immediate action against the operator of the aircraft.
“Today marks the 20th day since the unfortunate accident of my late uncle, yet the preliminary inquiry report from the DGCA has not been made public. No action has been initiated against VSR, which operates flights in violation of rules. This delay is raising doubts. The DGCA must release the preliminary findings at the earliest and take suitable action,” Pawar said.
The crash occurred on January 28 near Baramati airport in Pune district when a Learjet 45 went down during landing. Ajit Pawar had left Mumbai earlier that morning for his hometown Baramati, where he was scheduled to address four public meetings ahead of the Zila Parishad elections.
Apart from the senior NCP leader, those killed in the crash included Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had over 15,000 hours of flying experience, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak with around 1,500 hours of flying time, Personal Security Officer Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aircraft, bearing registration VT-SSK, was a Learjet 45 manufactured in 2010 and operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, a non-scheduled operator. The company holds a valid permit and operates a fleet of 17 aircraft, including seven Learjet 45 jets.
A regulatory audit conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in February 2025 had reportedly found no level-I safety violations in the company’s operations.
The pilot in command held an airline transport pilot licence and had logged over 15,000 flying hours. The co-pilot possessed a commercial pilot licence with around 1,500 hours of experience. Both crew members had valid medical clearances and had recently completed instrument rating and proficiency checks.
However, with nearly three weeks having passed since the crash, the absence of a preliminary report has triggered political questions and public scrutiny.
