Mamata Banerjee hints at foul play in Ajit Pawar's death, Fadnavis hits back
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hinted at foul play in the plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored probe, drawing sharp backlash from the BJP.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hinted at the possibility of foul play in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, a move that drew sharp criticism from the BJP.
Speaking to the media, Banerjee said she was “shocked” by the news of Pawar’s death and described the incident as a serious loss for the nation. She claimed there was “no safety and security” even for political leaders and referred to recent statements circulating on social media suggesting Pawar was considering leaving the BJP.
“What happened today raises serious questions,” she said, adding that only a probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court would be credible. “We have trust only in the Supreme Court, no other agency,” Banerjee said, alleging that investigative agencies had lost their independence.
Several political leaders have called for a proper and thorough investigation into the Baramati plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with five others. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar were among those demanding accountability while expressing their condolences.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, while urging a high-level probe, said on X that he was “extremely heartbroken” and prayed for peace to Ajit Pawar’s soul and strength for his family and supporters, paying a “humble tribute” to the late leader.
Gaurav Gogoi called for a “proper and transparent investigation” into the incident, saying he was “deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Ajit Pawar ji” and noting that his years of public service left a lasting imprint on Maharashtra’s political life.
BJP HITS BACK WITH 'PETTY POLITICS'
The BJP hit back strongly, accusing Banerjee of indulging in “petty politics” at a time of mourning. Biplab Deb, the party’s co-incharge for elections in West Bengal, said Banerjee had “lost her humanity.”
“This is not the time to do politics, but to stand by the bereaved family members of Pawar,” Deb told PTI Videos. He said Pawar’s family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule, had not made any such allegations. “They have not indulged in such petty politics,” he said.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP (SP) president, earlier asserted that the plane crash was an accident and “should not be politicised.”
Deb also attacked Banerjee over incidents in her own state, referring to a recent fire in Kolkata that killed several labourers. “In her state, several labourers lost their lives due to a fire. She didn’t even call their families, forget about her visiting them,” he said. “She has lost her humanity.”
Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya also criticised Banerjee, saying, “Instead of making insensitive remarks on the unfortunate demise of Pawar, Banerjee must focus on ensuring justice and timely relief for the fire victims' families in West Bengal.”
Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati, Supriya Sule’s constituency, to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the aircraft he was aboard crashed at 8.50 am.
The 16-year-old Bombardier Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and registered VT-SSK, was completely destroyed on impact, with debris scattered and smoke billowing from the site.
Initial reports suggest the jet faced difficulties during landing, though the exact sequence of events is still being verified, and no survivors were found. The twin-engine light jet, commonly used for VIP and corporate travel and suitable for regional airports like Baramati, had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am. F
Flightradar data shows it made an unsuccessful first landing attempt at 8.30 am, likely due to poor visibility, and attempted a second approach at 8.42 am before disappearing from radar around 8.45 am, ultimately crashing near the threshold of runway 11.
Visibility at Baramati was low, and the airport lacks a night-landing facility, limiting safe landings in such conditions. Pawar’s body was later identified from the watch he was wearing, as the crash left the victims unrecognisable.
Hours after the incident, VSR Aviation owner VK Singh told India Today TV that the aircraft was “100% safe” and flown by an experienced crew. He also confirmed that pilots Sumit Kapoor and Sambhavi Pathak were among those killed.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday hinted at the possibility of foul play in the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, demanding a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, a move that drew sharp criticism from the BJP.
Speaking to the media, Banerjee said she was “shocked” by the news of Pawar’s death and described the incident as a serious loss for the nation. She claimed there was “no safety and security” even for political leaders and referred to recent statements circulating on social media suggesting Pawar was considering leaving the BJP.
“What happened today raises serious questions,” she said, adding that only a probe under the supervision of the Supreme Court would be credible. “We have trust only in the Supreme Court, no other agency,” Banerjee said, alleging that investigative agencies had lost their independence.
Several political leaders have called for a proper and thorough investigation into the Baramati plane crash that killed Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar along with five others. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi leader Prakash Ambedkar were among those demanding accountability while expressing their condolences.
Lalu Prasad Yadav, while urging a high-level probe, said on X that he was “extremely heartbroken” and prayed for peace to Ajit Pawar’s soul and strength for his family and supporters, paying a “humble tribute” to the late leader.
Gaurav Gogoi called for a “proper and transparent investigation” into the incident, saying he was “deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Ajit Pawar ji” and noting that his years of public service left a lasting imprint on Maharashtra’s political life.
BJP HITS BACK WITH 'PETTY POLITICS'
The BJP hit back strongly, accusing Banerjee of indulging in “petty politics” at a time of mourning. Biplab Deb, the party’s co-incharge for elections in West Bengal, said Banerjee had “lost her humanity.”
“This is not the time to do politics, but to stand by the bereaved family members of Pawar,” Deb told PTI Videos. He said Pawar’s family, including his uncle Sharad Pawar and cousin Supriya Sule, had not made any such allegations. “They have not indulged in such petty politics,” he said.
Sharad Pawar, the NCP (SP) president, earlier asserted that the plane crash was an accident and “should not be politicised.”
Deb also attacked Banerjee over incidents in her own state, referring to a recent fire in Kolkata that killed several labourers. “In her state, several labourers lost their lives due to a fire. She didn’t even call their families, forget about her visiting them,” he said. “She has lost her humanity.”
Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya also criticised Banerjee, saying, “Instead of making insensitive remarks on the unfortunate demise of Pawar, Banerjee must focus on ensuring justice and timely relief for the fire victims' families in West Bengal.”
Ajit Pawar was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati, Supriya Sule’s constituency, to address four public meetings ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the aircraft he was aboard crashed at 8.50 am.
The 16-year-old Bombardier Learjet 45, operated by VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. and registered VT-SSK, was completely destroyed on impact, with debris scattered and smoke billowing from the site.
Initial reports suggest the jet faced difficulties during landing, though the exact sequence of events is still being verified, and no survivors were found. The twin-engine light jet, commonly used for VIP and corporate travel and suitable for regional airports like Baramati, had taken off from Mumbai at 8.10 am. F
Flightradar data shows it made an unsuccessful first landing attempt at 8.30 am, likely due to poor visibility, and attempted a second approach at 8.42 am before disappearing from radar around 8.45 am, ultimately crashing near the threshold of runway 11.
Visibility at Baramati was low, and the airport lacks a night-landing facility, limiting safe landings in such conditions. Pawar’s body was later identified from the watch he was wearing, as the crash left the victims unrecognisable.
Hours after the incident, VSR Aviation owner VK Singh told India Today TV that the aircraft was “100% safe” and flown by an experienced crew. He also confirmed that pilots Sumit Kapoor and Sambhavi Pathak were among those killed.