Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLC Amol Mitkari sparked a controversy by questioning whether the pilot involved in the Baramati plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar could have been a “suicide bomber”, drawing a parallel with the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by the LTTE.

Addressing a press conference, Mitkari said, “I have been saying this from the first day, that the way the pilots of the VSR company were issued an insurance in December, of 50-50 crores, we have received such information. Even after that, the VSR company has not given any clarification on this. If this had happened, then would that pilot have been sent as a suicide bomber? And I have given this example in Agola, that the way a female terrorist was going to Rajiv Gandhi's assembly, the way she was attacked, and she died a painful death, that type of a suicide bomber, this pilot named Sumit Kapoor, wasn't he the one? An inquiry should be conducted to recover the data from the black box.”

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Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the preliminary report into the crash would be released before February 28, in line with laid-down norms, and stressed that the probe was being conducted by competent authorities.

“It has also been clearly stated in the latest press release that the Preliminary report will be released within one month. The details mentioned in the press release are what we are conveying. The primary report will be released before the 28th, that is, within a month, and thereafter the final report will be issued,” he said.

On allegations raised by NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, Mohol declined to comment, stating that investigative agencies were sharing updates through official press releases.

“I do not wish to comment on what others are saying. However, as I am the Minister of this department, I can say that the investigation agencies, whether it is the AAIB or the DGC, regularly share information through press releases,” he added.

Ajit Pawar, 66, died on January 28 when the aircraft carrying him crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport in Pune district. The plane went down near the runway threshold, killing all five people on board, including Pawar, his personal security officer, a flight attendant and two pilots. He was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to campaign for Zilla Parishad elections.