NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar on Saturday alleged that influential businessmen and political leaders are trying to delay and “control” the investigation into the January 28 air crash in Baramati, Pune, in which his uncle and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life.

Addressing the media, Rohit Pawar said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a copy marked to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging immediate action in the matter.

In his letter, Rohit Pawar requested that Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu step down from his post until the investigation is completed.

He raised concerns about the alleged links between VSR Ventures, the air charter company that owned the aircraft involved in the crash and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), to which the minister belongs.

Rohit Pawar said that since the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) functions under the Civil Aviation Ministry, there are doubts about whether the investigation will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner. He demanded that an independent agency investigate the case. If required, he said, international agencies should also be involved to ensure impartiality.

Rohit Pawar claimed that influential individuals from both politics and industry may be involved in the case. He alleged that family members of a senior TDP leader have financial dealings with VSR Ventures. He further claimed that leaders from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh may also have connections with the company.

According to him, there could be two types of conspiracy in the crash political or commercial and all angles must be thoroughly examined.

He also raised doubts about the aircraft’s black box and said that there were reportedly multiple explosions, not just a single blast. He alleged that extra petrol cans stored in the aircraft’s luggage compartment might have caused the fire, and said this aspect must also be investigated carefully.

Rohit Pawar’s statement comes days after NCP (SP) MP and party working president Supriya Sule demanded high-level security for him.

Sule said Rohit Pawar has raised serious questions about the crash and deserves protection. She added that several political parties, including the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena and the Congress, have supported calls for a discussion on the issue in Parliament.

Sule said there are many unanswered questions in the minds of the public and urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to hold a press conference to clarify the matter.

Rohit Pawar also referred to internal political developments within the NCP. He claimed that certain leaders had played a role in earlier party merger discussions and that emotional considerations were involved in those decisions. However, he maintained that his current demand is focused solely on ensuring a fair and transparent investigation into the crash that claimed his uncle’s life.

The January 28 crash has sparked political debate, with demands for a thorough and impartial probe. The Union Civil Aviation Ministry and investigative authorities have not yet issued detailed responses to the allegations.