Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Tuesday alleged that the recent airplane crash involving senior Maharashtra leader Ajit Pawar “smells like a conspiracy” and demanded that an international investigative agency be brought in to conduct an independent probe, triggering a sharp political debate and calls for transparency.
Addressing reporters in Mumbai, Rohit Pawar said the aviation incident raised “serious and troubling questions” and that an impartial investigation by a foreign agency would help ensure credibility. He maintained that the circumstances surrounding the crash were not entirely clear and required scrutiny beyond the standard domestic aviation inquiry.
“This incident is not a routine accident. The sequence of events and the information that has emerged so far give rise to suspicion. It smells like a conspiracy,” Rohit Pawar said. “To remove all doubts and maintain public confidence, we demand an independent investigation by a reputed foreign aviation authority or international agency.”
The aircraft carrying Ajit Pawar was involved in a crash earlier this week during what officials described as a scheduled flight. Emergency services responded swiftly, and Pawar was provided medical assistance. Authorities have said an inquiry is underway to determine the cause of the crash, including technical, operational and environmental factors.
Rohit Pawar said that while he would not speculate on specific causes, several aspects of the incident required deeper examination. He pointed to the need for a detailed forensic analysis of the aircraft, maintenance records, flight data and communications. “We are not making allegations against any individual or organisation at this stage. We are simply saying that all angles must be examined thoroughly by an agency that commands global trust,” he said.
He also called on the state and central governments to support the demand for an international probe. According to him, such an investigation would not only establish the facts but also reassure the public and political fraternity that the matter was being handled with the utmost seriousness.
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