Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said he did not believe there was a conspiracy behind the Baramati plane crash that claimed the life of then Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, but insisted that the Central Bureau of Investigation should probe the incident, news agency PTI reported.
“We demand that the inquiry into the plane crash should take place through the Central Bureau of Investigation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has written to the Centre for the same, and I am also going to follow it up,” the Republican Party of India leader told PTI during a visit to Latur in Maharashtra.
“At the same time, I don’t think there was any conspiracy behind this incident. Ajit Pawar was so strong that no one would try such a thing, and moreover he had no enmity (with anyone),” Athawale said.
He also criticised the delay in action against VSR Ventures, which operated the ill-fated Learjet-45 plane that crashed at Baramati in Pune district on January 28 with Pawar and four others on board.
“If an aircraft malfunctions, then the company should be banned. (But) I disagree with those who are saying that it was a planned crash,” the Union Minister said.
Athawale further stated that he will be re-elected to the Rajya Sabha with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) support in the upcoming election for seven vacant Upper House seats from Maharashtra.
“Four seats will be contested by the BJP, and one of the four seats will be mine. If the opposition parties lack consensus, we can also contest and win the seventh seat,” he said.
On the panel system for municipal elections, Athawale stated that it was difficult for his party’s candidates to succeed under this system, and that he would request Chief Minister Fadnavis to scrap panel elections.
Ajit Pawar plane crash: CID probe to check for sabotage or negligence
The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) said on Thursday that the focus of its probe into the Baramati plane crash is to determine whether the incident was caused by sabotage or criminal negligence.
Addressing a press conference, Sunil Ramanand, additional director general (CID), said the investigation is being conducted in a detailed and professional manner.
“The purpose of the CID probe is to determine whether there was any foul play in the plane crash. It will also examine whether there was any criminal negligence. Thirdly, the probe will ascertain whether any criminal act, including illegal omission, led to the crash,” Ramanand said.
He added that once the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) concludes its report, its findings will be incorporated into the CID investigation.
“We have collected several pieces of evidence,” the official said.
Ramanand further stated that if any criminal angle, including negligence or sabotage, is established, the CID will register a case under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
(With PTI inputs)