Primary report on plane crash that killed Ajit Pawar expected by end of Feb: Mohol

Pune: Union minister of state (MoS) for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol on Sunday said that the primary investigation into the plane crash that killed deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar will be completed by the end of Feb. Mohol was speaking to reporters after a citizens' interaction programme in Gokhalenagar. He told mediapersons, "The preliminary report will be released within one month (from the day of the mishap). It will be available on or before Feb 28; after that, the final report will be published."
NCP (SP) leader and MLA Rohit Pawar had earlier demanded that civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu resign in the aftermath of the fatal crash. He also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking Naidu's resignation. Asked about this, Mohol said there is no point in entertaining such allegations. "This question should be asked to Naidu. He will give a clarification about it," said the MP.Mohol also said investigative agencies are doing their work by probing the incident and trying to ascertain causes behind the crash. "They provide updates about their work through statements regularly. Raising doubts about it is unnecessary," he said, adding, "The civil aviation department has issued a statement with detailed clarifications regarding allegations."The MoS also commented on the protest carried out by Youth Congress workers during the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, calling it "very unbecoming". "An international-level programme was being conducted in Delhi, and this protest embarrassed the country on a global platform. The workers are being criticised by all strata of society. Even the parties supporting Congress are criticising the protest. The common people who were present at the event have taught the Congress workers a lesson," Mohol said.Earlier around noon on Sunday, the MP interacted with Pune residents in Gokhalenagar at a Janata Darbar, where attending citizens raised various issues pertaining to their Aadhaar cards, Ayushman Bharat cards and more.