NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Tuesday raised questions about the death of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and demanded a comprehensive probe in the case. He raised questions over the pilot's track record, the firm owning that plane, and also the extent of probe being carried out by the state's investigation department.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28 while he was heading to his constituency Baramati in a chartered plane.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Rohit Pawar questioned the track record of Capt Sumit Kapoor, who was piloting the aircraft on the day of the incident, citing his suspension for three years for alcohol consumption in the past, PTI reported.
Rohit Pawar questioned over the maintenance of the flight and demanded a probe into the company's functioning. The NCP (SP) MLA claimed there was a sabotage and demanded that Ajit Pawar's family members must be allowed to hear the details of the black box.
He alleged that VSR Company, which owned the Learjet aircraft, wielded influence over DGCA officials and could "get away with anything."
"The company is trying to control the probe. It is going at a very slow pace. It should be before manipulation and managed and all the contracts of the VSR Ventures should be canceled by the government," he said.
{{/usCountry}}"The company is trying to control the probe. It is going at a very slow pace. It should be before manipulation and managed and all the contracts of the VSR Ventures should be canceled by the government," he said.
{{/usCountry}}Rohit said there were serious doubts about VSR Company, the handling company Arrow, which made the booking, and the pilot, Sumit Kapoor.
Rohit Pawar demands probe by expert agencies
Rohit Pawar said the Crime Investigation Department (CID) would not have full authority to probe the incident and demanded a comprehensive investigation by agencies, including the National Transportation Safety Board, the Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety, the UK-based Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), along with Indian agencies.
He said that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) functions under the DGCA and raised concerns that all doubts surrounding the crash may not be cleared.
He said that he did not believe this it was “a mere accident”, adding “there is room to suspect sabotage.”
NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash in Baramati last month alone with four others, including the flight crew and his security staff. He was supposed to attend public rallies in Baramati for rural body elections when his plane met with an accident just before landing.