Mumbai

Rohit Pawar on Friday staged a symbolic protest outside the Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters in Pune, carrying a heavy metal chain and lock to express dissatisfaction over the absence of a CBI inquiry into the plane crash that killed former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

The protest came four months after the fatal crash, with Rohit Pawar alleging that no central agency had conducted a comprehensive probe into the incident.

Speaking to reporters, the MLA said the symbolic act was meant to draw attention to what he described as inaction by investigative agencies.

“If they are not investigating, what have these officers sitting in AC offices done, and what will they do? Therefore, it would be more convenient to completely stop this expenditure,” he said, questioning why the matter had not been handed over to the CBI.

Rohit Pawar has repeatedly demanded a detailed investigation into the crash and alleged the possibility of a conspiracy behind the incident involving the aircraft operator, VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. He has also claimed that influential individuals were shielding the company.

Earlier in April, Pawar had met Maharashtra CID officials in Pune and expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation, claiming there was “nothing concrete” in the probe.

He also alleged that authorities were reluctant to act against VSR Ventures chief VK Singh and referred to his alleged links with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.

In March, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a “time-bound”, “transparent” and “comprehensive” investigation into the crash, citing concerns raised by Rohit Pawar.

The letter highlighted issues including the safety record of aircraft operator VSR Ventures, flight crew deployment norms, aircraft maintenance standards, discrepancies in flight data and possible regulatory lapses.

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Ajit Pawar died on January 28 when the Learjet 45 aircraft carrying him crash-landed near Baramati airport in Pune district. All five people on board, including Pawar, his security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots, were killed in the accident while travelling from Mumbai to Baramati for election campaigning.