Rohit Pawar and Supriya Sule step up pressure on Centre for 'transparent' probe into Ajit plane crash

MUMBAI/PUNE: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Wednesday demanded that civil aviation minister K Rammohan Naidu step down from his post until the probe into the Baramati air crash that killed Ajit Pawar was completed. Baramati MP and Ajit's cousin Supriya Sule also called for a "transparent" inquiry into the crash that left five persons dead.

Rohit, who is Ajit's nephew, alleged that VSR Ventures, the charter company that operated the Learjet aircraft involved in the Jan 28 crash, was being protected. Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is expected to release a preliminary report by Feb 27.




Rohit alleged that the civil aviation minister and his party, TDP, were close to the company owners. "Some former ministers from Maharashtra and top TDP ministers from Andhra Pradesh attended the wedding of Rohit Singh, son of VSR owner VK Singh," he said, adding that Naidu should not continue as civil aviation minister on moral grounds. He welcomed the move by NCP politicians, including deputy CM Sunetra Pawar, to seek a CBI probe into the crash.

Rohit also said his family had expressed concerns about his safety as he had taken on the "high and mighty". He added that if there was a political angle to the accident, it could involve speculation that NCP(SP) may merge with NCP and join NDA, or Ajit could quit NDA. "Some groups were unhappy with either scenario," Rohit said.

Saying new information was "coming to light" about the crash every day, Sule said, "Everyone is now raising questions. Therefore, we are seeking comprehensive data and a formal inquiry." Sule said Rohit was doing a "scientific follow-up" of the matter. "He lost his uncle and wants to know the truth," she said.
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