As opposition voices demanded a court-monitored probe, Sharad Pawar firmly rejected allegations of foul play, saying the crash that killed Ajit Pawar had “no politics behind it.”
New Delhi | January 28, 2026
Breaking his silence after hours of speculation and political crossfire, veteran leader Sharad Pawar on Wednesday described the death of his nephew, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, as a “tragic accident,” firmly dismissing allegations of conspiracy surrounding the plane crash near Baramati earlier in the day.
Visibly emotional, the 85-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) patriarch said grief should not be weaponised for political narratives, urging restraint as investigations proceed.
“Some incidents have no politics behind them. Everything is not in our hands. I feel helpless,” Sharad Pawar said.
Ajit Pawar was killed when a Bombardier Learjet 45, operated by private firm VSR Aviation, crash-landed and burst into flames near the runway at Baramati airport around 8:48 am. Witnesses said the aircraft was barely 100 metres short of the runway when it went down.
The aircraft was flying from Mumbai to Baramati, where Pawar was scheduled to campaign for the Zilla Panchayat elections.
READ: Left Tilt, Rapid Descent: New Footage Deepens Mystery Around Ajit Pawar Tragedy
🚨 BIG STATEMENT
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has DISMISSED CONSPIRACY theories surrounding the demise of Ajit Pawar, saying, “This was purely an ACCIDENT. There is NO politics involved.” pic.twitter.com/U09RnTtgti
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) January 28, 2026
Others On Board
According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aircraft was carrying four other occupants—Ajit Pawar’s personal security officer, an assistant, and two crew members. All were killed in the crash.
“This is an irreparable loss,” Sharad Pawar said.
“Maharashtra has lost a capable leader and a great personality. This pain will stay with us forever.”
Ajit Pawar, 66, was one of Maharashtra’s most influential politicians and the longest-serving Deputy Chief Minister of the state, having held the post for six non-consecutive terms across governments led by Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray, and Eknath Shinde.
Political Undercurrents, Firm Rebuttal
Soon after news of the crash broke, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for a Supreme Court-monitored probe, alleging institutional compromise. Several opposition leaders, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, echoed the demand.
Sharad Pawar, however, rejected these claims outright.
“A stand was floated from Kolkata suggesting politics behind this tragedy. There is nothing like that. I request everyone not to bring politics into this,” he said.
Despite a major political split in 2023—when Ajit Pawar broke away from his uncle to align with the BJP—the two NCP factions had recently reunited to contest municipal elections in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Government officials said the aircraft attempted to land amid poor visibility and had earlier executed a go-around, a standard aviation safety procedure used when a landing cannot be completed safely.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said the aircraft was later cleared to land but failed to provide a mandatory “read-back” to Air Traffic Control (ATC)—a critical confirmation protocol—before crashing moments later.
“Preliminary information suggests visibility was poor at the time of landing,” Naidu said.
In aviation terms, a read-back ensures pilots correctly understand ATC instructions, forming a closed-loop safety system.
No Technical Fault, Says Operator
VSR Aviation owner V K Singh said the aircraft had no known technical issues.
“The plane was very well maintained. There was absolutely no technical failure as far as we know,” he told reporters.
Teams from the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) have reached the crash site and begun a formal investigation into the incident.
Ajit Pawar’s last rites will be conducted with full state honours, the Maharashtra government announced.
