Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged here on Thursday that several politicians have invested in Delhi-based air charter company VSR Ventures which flew the late Ajit Pawar and several serving ministers have financial links with the company, even as the Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena decided not to use VSR’s aircraft.
Raut alleged that civil aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is a “corrupt department” and claimed that it enjoys political protection, questioning why the police has refused Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Rohit Pawar’s demand to file an FIR against the DGCA.
“The government calls the late Ajit Pawar’s crash an accident, but we are calling it culpable homicide. The question we have is whether the laments of the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and Amit Shah that day were real or not. Rohit Pawar went to the Marine Drive police station and tried to file an FIR against VSR Ventures and the DGCA demanding that a case of culpable homicide be registered. However, Rohit Pawar’s demand was rejected. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) at Marine Drive police station received a call and Rohit Pawar’s complaint was not registered due to that pressure. This means all your tears were crocodile tears,” Sanjay Raut said.
“The case of Ajit Pawar’s crash is being suppressed. The money of many politicians and ministers is involved in VSR Ventures. (Union Civil Aviation Minister) Rama Naidu is from Chandrababu Naidu’s party (Telugu Desam). Chandrababu Naidu and this company have financial dealings. What investigation will be done in such a situation? There should be explanations and answers to Rohit Pawar’s questions. It was necessary for an FIR to be filed,” he added.
“DGCA is the most corrupt department in this government. They have committed many culpable homicides till now and no one has been able to crack these cases because private airlines need the blessings of the DGCA. VSR also has the blessings of many politicians. I have seen some things along with documents. Therefore, a case should be registered against DGCA and VSR. As far as I know, Ajit Pawar was going to leave the BJP after the merger of the two parties. Ajit Pawar wanted to get out of the BJP’s clutches,” the Uddhav Sena spokesman said.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLAs as well as ministers decided not to use VSR aircraft and their decision has also been approved by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. It may be recalled that Rohit Pawar had demanded a ban on VSR’s operations as well as grounding all its aircraft.
Earlier on Thursday, the Baramati Police refused to file an FIR against the DGCA, as demanded by Sharad Pawar-led NCP MLA Rohit Pawar who reached the Baramati police station with Yugendra Pawar and Rajendra Pawar as well as NCP workers, after the Marine Lines police station in South Mumbai refused to file an FIR on Wednesday.
Yugendra Pawar is the grandnephew of Sharad Pawar and son of the late Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Rajendra Pawar, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2024 Maharashtra state assembly election against his uncle Ajit Pawar from the Baramati constituency on a Sharad Pawar-led NCP ticket.