Pune: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar claimed on Tuesday that instead of investigating VSR Ventures following the fatal plane crash that killed then deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, the govt paid the aviation firm Rs145 crore.The aircraft, operated by VSR Ventures, crashed near Baramati airport on Jan 28 while transporting Ajit Pawar from Mumbai. Marking the three-month anniversary of the tragedy, Rohit Pawar visited the CID office to seek an update on the investigation. However, the MLA claimed he was unable to meet any high-ranking officials.“I was told that all the senior officers had gone to Mumbai to participate in a cricket match,” Rohit told newspersons, expressing frustration over the lack of progress.This was Rohit’s third visit to the CID office. He claimed the investigating officers were yet to provide a satisfactory response regarding the status of the case. “The owner of VSR Ventures, V.K. Singh, has only been summoned once, while his son, Rohit Singh, has not been questioned by the CID at all,” he said.The NCP (SP) MLA highlighted a series of payments made to the aviation firm immediately surrounding the date of the crash. According to Rohit, the state govt continued to clear VSR Ventures’ bills with unusual speed, even as other state obligations remained unpaid.“On Jan 27, a day before the crash, the state paid VSR Rs15.72 crore. On the day of the tragedy, another Rs9.81 crore was released. Even on Jan 29, as the final rites were being performed for Ajit Dada in Baramati, the govt cleared a payment of Rs16.86 crore,” Rohit claimed. He further alleged that while contractors, farmers, and students were struggling to get their dues, the government paid VSR Ventures a total of Rs145 crore between the crash and the end of March.Rohit claimed he had submitted a statement to the CID demanding an investigation into possible foul play in the death of Ajit Pawar involving arrested astrologer Ashok Kharat.“Rituals involving black magic were reportedly performed at a farm behind Ajit Pawar’s bungalow in Katewadi, as well as near his residences in Baramati and Mumbai,” Rohit said. “While I personally do not believe in such practices, the police must investigate why these rituals were being carried out and by whom.”He said a local NCP member, believed to be in contact with Kharat during these rituals, should be questioned to determine if there was a conspiracy behind the crash.
