Baramati plane crash: Maharashtra CID questions VSR Ventures owner

The Maharashtra Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Thursday (March 5, 2025) questioned VK Singh, owner of VSR Ventures, which operated the aircraft involved in the Baramati crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, a CID official said.

“VK Singh’s statement is being recorded,” the CID officer said, without revealing further details about the ongoing interrogation.

A Learjet 45 aircraft operated by VSR Ventures crashed near Baramati airstrip in Pune district on January 28, killing Ajit Pawar and four others.

Following the plane crash, an accidental death report was registered at Baramati Taluka police station and the case was later transferred to Pune CID. The State agency had earlier said it was focusing on establishing whether sabotage or criminal negligence led to the Baramati tragedy.

According to a source, days before Mr Singh was questioned, the CID had sent a series of questions to VSR Ventures in connection with its investigation into the plane crash.

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar had alleged on Wednesday (March 4) that someone was trying to save VSR Ventures and claimed that the preliminary investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) had confirmed the suspicions raised by him earlier.

In its preliminary 22-page report into the air tragedy, the AAIB said visibility was below the required level at the time of the accident. He also pointed out the fading of the tracks on the track and the presence of loose gravel on the track surface.

A few days ago, Ajit Pawar’s son Jay Pawar had shared a video on social media claiming that Mr Singh’s son Rohit Singh was seen dozing in the chief pilot’s seat during the flight and demanded his immediate arrest.

He had also requested that all planes belonging to VSR Ventures be grounded until the investigation into his father’s plane crash was completed.