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Bengaluru: On Wednesday, the Karnataka Police officially transferred the 'Zero FIR' related to the plane crash involving the late Ajit Pawar, a prominent NCP leader and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, to their counterparts in Maharashtra. This transfer includes all pertinent documents and the case file.

The Karnataka authorities have requested that the Maharashtra Police move the case to the Baramati Rural Police Station located in Pune district.

P. Harishekaran, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for Crime and Technical Services in Karnataka, has communicated this request to the Maharashtra Director General of Police.

The Zero FIR, filed in Bengaluru, alleges a broader criminal conspiracy behind the tragic plane crash that occurred on January 28, 2026, near Baramati Airport, resulting in the deaths of Ajit Pawar and four others.

The complaint, lodged on March 23 at the High Grounds Police Station by Rohit Rajendra Pawar, an NCP(SP) MLA and nephew of the deceased, claims that the crash was orchestrated as part of a conspiracy to eliminate Ajit Pawar. It also seeks to identify all individuals involved as suspects.

In his correspondence, ADGP Harishekaran noted: “Enclosed is the case file from the Bengaluru City High Grounds Police Station Zero FIR, registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), for transfer to Baramati Rural Police Station, Pune district, Maharashtra.”

He further requested confirmation of receipt for the case file and accompanying documents.

The High Grounds police had registered the FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The delay in filing was attributed to the complainant's unsuccessful attempts to register the case at various police stations in Maharashtra, leading him to file the Zero FIR in Bengaluru.

Rohit Pawar initially sought to file a case in Maharashtra, specifically at the Marine Drive Police Station in Mumbai and Baramati, but after those attempts failed, he proceeded to file the FIR in Bengaluru.

The crash reportedly took place between 8:43 AM and 8:45 AM when a Bombardier Learjet 45, registered as VT-SSK and operated by VSR Ventures Private Limited, crashed while en route from Mumbai to Baramati, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals on board.

The FIR, filed under Section 173(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, indicates that previous attempts to register a case at the Marine Drive Police Station on February 25 and Baramati Police Station on February 26 were unsuccessful, while the Pune CID was only investigating the Accidental Death Report aspect.

The complainant has called for a comprehensive criminal investigation separate from the technical inquiry conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), asserting that the crash was a deliberate act to eliminate Ajit Pawar.

The FIR references findings from a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety audit dated February 24, 2026, which reportedly identified negligence and unairworthiness in VSR aircraft, leading to their grounding.

It alleges that the aircraft VT-SSK was operated in violation of safety regulations, having logged approximately 4,915 flight hours, nearing the mandatory engine overhaul threshold of 5,000 hours.

The complaint further suggests that actual flight hours may have exceeded 8,000, indicating under-reporting in official logbooks and potential falsification of maintenance records, allowing the continued operation of an unsafe aircraft.

Concerns regarding weather conditions at the time of landing have also been raised. A flying training organization estimated visibility at 3,000 meters, while Pune METAR data indicated visibility of about 2,000 meters with mist, and satellite imagery showed fog patches.

Under Visual Flight Rules, landing is prohibited with visibility less than 5 kilometers, yet clearance was allegedly granted.

The complaint also questions the DGCA certification records, noting that the aircraft’s airworthiness certificate was issued on December 16, 2021, prior to its registration certificate on December 27, 2022, which contradicts standard procedures.

Additionally, it highlights that the aircraft was previously registered in the United States as N80PQ and was reportedly retired from service abroad, raising concerns about the diligence exercised during its import and certification in India.

The conduct and history of Chief Pilot Sumit Kapoor are also scrutinized. The complaint reveals that he had prior alcohol-related violations in 2010 and 2017, resulting in a three-year suspension by the DGCA, and had ceased advanced Learjet training in the US due to alcohol issues. Despite this, he was assigned to operate the flight.

The originally scheduled crew was reportedly replaced at the last minute, with VSR claiming the initial crew was delayed due to traffic.

This explanation has been deemed implausible and lacks supporting evidence.

The complaint alleges that Kapoor’s financial difficulties and past record made him vulnerable to coercion, and claims a life insurance policy had recently been taken out in his name.

Additional irregularities include a last-minute alteration in Ajit Pawar's travel plans, who had initially intended to travel by road on January 27 but remained in Mumbai. The flight itself was delayed by approximately 70 minutes from its scheduled 7 AM departure.

The complaint also points to operational anomalies during landing, such as a switch from the initially requested Runway 29 to Runway 11 shortly before landing, and the absence of a go-around attempt despite a failed first approach.

In the final moments recorded, the co-pilot reportedly exclaimed, “Oh shit, oh shit,” while the chief pilot remained silent, with no distress call or emergency response documented.

The complaint concludes that these factors collectively suggest systematic violations, negligence, and a potential criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and seeks accountability for all those involved.