Ajit Pawar plane crash: ‘Conspiracy or negligence?’ Maharashtra CID to probe ‘sabotage’ angle

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is investigating the Baramati plane crash. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra CID is conducting an inquiry into a case of accidental deaths registered with the Pune Rural police as a procedure after any accident that involves fatalities.

“An Accidental Death case has been registered at Baramati Taluka police station with regards to the aircraft accident. The probe of this case was immediately transferred to the CID by the Director General of Police of Maharashtra. Scope of inquiry is to probe whether there was any criminal conspiracy of sabotage, or criminal negligence or illegal omission behind the crash. This probe is heading in the right direction and since the beginning it is being conducted with utmost professionalism. For this probe we have received support from Baramati Government Medical College, Forensic Sciences Laboratory, various aviation authorities and other central agencies,” said Sunil Ramanand, Additional Director General of Police, CID, in a press briefing.

“CID is constantly coordinating with AAIB. Once the AAIB probe concludes, its findings will be considered in our inquiry into the Accidental Death case. We have collected relevant evidence, and the process is ongoing. Considering the seriousness of the probe, the Maharashtra Government has initiated communication on transferring the probe of the Accidental Death case to the CBI. If the probe finds that there was conspiracy of sabotage, or criminal negligence or illegal omission of any kind, CID may register an offence under relevant legal provisions and undertake prosecution in the court after completing the remaining probe.” added Ramanand. A Learjet 45 aircraft, registration VT-SSK, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd, was involved in an accident in Baramati while operating a flight from Mumbai to Baramati on the morning of January 28. Officials also clarified that CID is not conducting the probe into the causes of the crash — which is solely the domain of AAIB — but a procedural investigation into the deaths. They said CID will prepare a complete report of the facts known, and the AAIB’s findings will be included in the police report.

AAIB is responsible for the classification of ‘Safety Occurrences’ involving aircraft operating in the Indian airspace into accidents, serious incidents and incidents. All accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft with an All Up Weight (AUW) of more than 2250 kilograms or Turbojet aircraft are investigated by AAIB.