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Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: NCP MLA Rohit Pawar says he had to file a ‘zero FIR’ in Karnataka as the police in Maharashtra did not register a case based on his complaint
Rohit Pawar has alleged a “major criminal conspiracy” in the death of his uncle Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28, 2026. (PTI/File)
The investigation into the Baramati plane crash that killed Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has taken a dramatic turn, with nephew Rohit Pawar alleging a “major criminal conspiracy” and forcing the registration of a Zero FIR outside Maharashtra.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed along with four others on January 28 this year when his chartered Bombardier Learjet 45 crashed near Baramati airport. While initial investigations treated it as an accident, Rohit Pawar has claimed the crash involved “serious negligence”, “safety violations” and possible “record tampering”.
Why Rohit Pawar Filed A Zero FIR In Bengaluru
Rohit Pawar has said he was forced to approach police in Karnataka after repeated attempts in Maharashtra failed. “Despite approaching multiple police stations and agencies in Maharashtra, no FIR was registered. I had to go to Karnataka where a ‘Zero FIR’ was registered, and it was transferred to the Maharashtra Director General of Police today morning. Will the government act on it now?” he said in the Maharashtra Assembly.
According to him, complaints were earlier filed at Mumbai’s Marine Drive police station, Baramati police station and even with the state CID, but no FIR was registered. The probe, he claimed, remained limited to an “accidental death” angle.
He also questioned the delay in handing over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, noting that a request had been made 35 days ago without action.
“In (actor) Sushant Singh Rajput’s case, the Bihar government requested a CBI probe and the Union government handed it over to the agency the very next day. Why can’t the same efficiency be shown in Ajit Pawar’s case?” he asked.
What Is a Zero FIR?
A Zero FIR can be registered at any police station, regardless of where the alleged crime took place. It is assigned the number ‘0’ initially, hence the name ‘Zero FIR’. The police station does not need jurisdiction over the case to register it and the FIR is later transferred to the appropriate police station for investigation.
This provision is meant to ensure that urgent complaints are not delayed due to jurisdictional issues, especially in serious cases involving death, violence or large-scale wrongdoing.
Rohit Pawar invoked this mechanism after alleging inaction by authorities in Maharashtra.
How Inter-State Zero FIRs Work
In cases like this, where a complaint is filed in one state for an incident that occurred in another, the process typically unfolds in three steps:
- Registration in Any State: A complainant can approach any police station, even in a different state, to file a Zero FIR.
- Immediate Acceptance: Police are expected to register the complaint without questioning jurisdiction, particularly in serious matters.
- Transfer to Jurisdictional Police: The FIR is then transferred to the police station that has territorial jurisdiction, in this case the Maharashtra Police, for detailed investigation.
This mechanism is backed by Supreme Court guidelines that mandate police to register FIRs when a cognisable offence is reported. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad noted, “The Supreme Court has clearly ruled that police must register an FIR if a complaint is made. There is no restriction of jurisdiction.”
Allegations That Triggered the Complaint
Rohit Pawar’s complaint goes beyond procedural lapses and raises serious questions about aviation safety and possible foul play. The aircraft was allegedly “unfit to fly” and close to its engine overhaul limit. The complaint claims that actual flight hours were hidden, possibly exceeding 8,000 hours, alleging “deliberate data hiding and record tampering”.
It also raises questions over DGCA procedures, including airworthiness vs registration timeline mismatch and flags concerns over the pilot’s past record and last-minute crew changes.
“There was a deliberate attempt to suppress facts,” Rohit Pawar alleged, adding that a leader of Ajit Pawar’s stature “was yet to get justice”.
What Happens Next
The Zero FIR registered in Bengaluru has now been transferred to Maharashtra Police, where a full investigation is expected.
With allegations ranging from negligence to conspiracy, the case has now shifted from being treated as an aviation accident to a potential criminal investigation, raising pressure on both state authorities and central agencies to act swiftly.
Maharashtra, India, India
March 25, 2026, 11:37 IST
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