Mamata Seeks SC Probe in Pawar Crash
By KUNAL CHATTERJEE
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led the charge for accountability today, calling for an immediate and transparent investigation into the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, insisting it be supervised directly by the Supreme Court.
"This is a profound loss, and we must uncover the truth to prevent such tragedies," Banerjee stated, consoling NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar while urging swift action amid rising suspicions.
The demand comes as shockwaves ripple through India's political corridors following the January 28, 2026, disaster near Baramati Airport, which killed five people including Pawar, two pilots, and two security personnel.
Eyewitnesses described a harrowing scene around 9:12 AM IST. The Learjet 45, chartered from Mumbai for Pawar's local election rallies, attempted a second landing on Runway 11 but veered sharply off-course.
The aircraft burst into flames upon impact, scattering wreckage across sugarcane fields shrouded in thick black smoke.
Emergency responders battled the blaze, but Pawar and his entourage perished instantly.
Preliminary probes point to possible mechanical failure or pilot error, with the plane's maintenance records now under intense scrutiny.
At 66, Ajit Pawar was no stranger to the spotlight. Born into the influential Pawar family as Sharad Pawar's nephew, he built an unassailable bastion in Baramati, rising through NCP ranks to serve four terms as deputy chief minister.
His career wasn't without storms, plagued by allegations in massive irrigation scams and a dramatic 2023 party split where he briefly rebelled before rejoining the fold.
Yet, Pawar proved a master navigator, aligning with the NDA in 2025 to bolster youth employment drives and rural infrastructure, earning him a reputation as a gritty pragmatist who delivered for farmers despite critics labelling him a shrewd power broker.
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar deemed the crash "shocking," warning fellow politicians: "Travel carefully, such losses shake us all." On X, users mourned the "profoundly distressing" demise of a "true Baramati lion."
Banerjee's Supreme Court plea amplifies fears of foul play, especially with Zilla Parishad elections looming.
NCP grapples with a leadership vacuum in its Baramati stronghold, testing Maharashtra's fragile Mahayuti coalition.
As families mourn and investigators dig deeper, Pawar's untimely exit leaves a void and unanswered questions hanging in the smoky air.
