Criminal Investigation Department to register case if Ajit Pawar’s assassination is proven, says top cop

The Maharashtra State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) will register a case under appropriate legal provisions if it is established that the late Ajit Pawar was assassinated, CID Additional Director General of Police Sunil Ramanand said at a press conference here today.

“If Ajit Pawar’s assassination is proven, the CID will register a case under the appropriate sections. The investigation into Ajit Pawar’s plane crash has been transferred to the CID. One of the objectives of this investigation is to determine whether there was any conspiracy behind his death. We are trying to establish whether it was a conspiracy or an accident. The CID is probing the case from three angles—criminal collusion or conspiracy, criminal negligence, or any other criminal act,” Ramanand said.

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“Through this press conference, I wish to state that the investigation into Ajit Pawar’s death is progressing in a proper manner. Baramati Government Medical College, the Pune Forensic Science Laboratory, several other agencies, and many central institutions are cooperating with us. The CID is also continuously coordinating with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). After the AAIB completes its probe, we will receive its report and take its findings into account,” he added.

“The Maharashtra government has also written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding the transfer of the investigation. If any criminal collusion, conspiracy, negligence, or other criminal act is found, the CID will register a case under the appropriate sections and carry forward the investigation,” Ramanand said.

Earlier on Thursday, the Baramati police refused to file an FIR against the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), as demanded by NCP MLA Rohit Pawar, who reached the Baramati police station along with Yugendra Pawar, Rajendra Pawar, and party workers. This came after the Marine Lines police station in South Mumbai also refused to register an FIR on Wednesday.

Yugendra Pawar, the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar and son of Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Rajendra Pawar, had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly election against his uncle from the Baramati constituency on an NCP ticket.

They reached the Baramati taluka police station with a large number of supporters holding placards. Rohit Pawar and Yugendra Pawar submitted a written complaint, but the police refused to register an FIR.

“We believe an FIR should be registered against VSR Ventures. We are here to support Rohit Dada in this fight. Our demand is that Ajit Dada should get justice and that the investigation be expedited. The DGCA report has pointed to criminal negligence by VSR Ventures. If criminal negligence has been established, an FIR must be registered against the company,” Yugendra Pawar told media persons.

Rohit Pawar alleged that influential forces were preventing the registration of an FIR.

“We Baramatikars have gathered here to ensure that this case is registered. We suspect a conspiracy. The public has many unanswered questions. Is there pressure on the police not to register an FIR? The owner of VSR Ventures has connections with several political leaders. The DGCA has said the aircraft flown by Ajit Pawar was defective. Was this a mistake or intentional? We suspect the involvement of influential persons, and the refusal to file an FIR raises serious concerns,” he said.

“This is not a protest, but an effort to secure justice for Ajit Dada. Some BJP leaders are opposing the demand for an FIR, but leaders of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde are not opposing it. This suggests that even they want justice for Ajit Pawar,” Rohit Pawar added.