Police refuses to register Rohit Pawar’s FIR against DGCA

High-drama was witnessed at the Marine Drive police station here on Wednesday after the late Ajit Pawar’s nephew and Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, MLA Amol Mitkari, MLC Idris Naikwadi, and MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar requested police officials on duty to register a first information report (FIR) against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

“While awaiting proper action regarding Ajit Dada’s air crash, yesterday a DGCA report came out that negligence by VSR Ventures was the cause of the accident. But since no FIR based on this report has been registered, myself, Amol Mitkari, Idris Naikwadi and Sandeep Kshirsagar went to the Marine Drive police station demanding that an FIR be filed under the BNS. Accordingly, my statement was also taken, but a senior police officer refused to register the FIR and took an application only to complete formalities,” Rohit Pawar wrote on X.

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“This action of the police has deepened the suspicions we have expressed about the air crash. It would indeed be the misfortune of Maharashtra if a demand by opposition parties and ruling party representatives for an FIR gets ignored. This clearly shows that the government and the system are saving someone and if this continues, will Ajit Dada ever get justice? This raises serious doubts, but we will not sit quiet without taking this matter to the fore. All of us, who love Ajit Dada, will go to the Baramati taluka police station at 9 am tomorrow (Thursday) to file an FIR,” he said.

While interacting with media persons after the incident, Rohit Pawar said, “Initially, we had an argument with the police. Our lawyers explained the case to the police. Later, a policeman brought a laptop and I started typing out my statement. However, a senior police officer came and he stopped us from filing an FIR. Why did he stop us? Whose call did this police officer get? Our suspicion is growing. We have the right to file an FIR as per the new law brought by the Maharashtra state government”.

According to sources, Deputy Commissioner of Police Praveen Mundhe was at the police station when the incident took place. The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) also refused to register the FIR. “We will see what decision leaders in power take in this matter,” he said.

Later, Rohit Pawar alleged that the DGCA tried to give a “clean chit” to charter flight operator VSR Ventures before eventually admitting to safety lapses.

Speaking to the media at the Vidhan Bhawan premises, Pawar said the DGCA report issued at 1.36 pm on January 28 had stated that during the last regulatory audit conducted in February 2025, no Level-I findings were reported against VSR Ventures. “When Ajit Pawar’s body was taken to the hospital, the DGCA issued the report. It was the first attempt to issue a clean chit to VSR,” Rohit Pawar alleged, asking, “Who issued the airworthiness certificates? Who looks into aircraft maintenance? Who will take care of air safety? All responsibilities lie with the DGCA. If VSR is at fault, then the DGCA is also at fault.”

He said on January 28, the day of the tragic air crash, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu had claimed that there were no safety concerns with the Learjet operated by VSR Ventures and that all approvals had been granted after a thorough assessment by the DGCA.