Pilot with 16,500 flight hours, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, details of all on-board Pawar’s flight
New Delhi/Baramati: A chartered Learjet 45 carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning, killing all five people on board, officials confirmed. The aircraft was en route from Mumbai to Baramati when it lost control and burst into flames, leaving no survivors.
Ajit Pawar (66) – The deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and a senior political leader, Pawar was travelling to Baramati to address political engagements tied to local elections when the crash occurred. A long-time figure in the state’s political landscape, he was a key leader of the Nationalist Congress Party and part of the ruling coalition.
Vidip Jadhav – Serving as Pawar’s Personal Security Officer (PSO), Jadhav was also killed in the crash. He lived in Vitawa, Thane, and is survived by his elderly parents, a nine-year-old son and a 14-year-old daughter. Neighbours described him as friendly and well-known in the community.
Pinky Mali – The flight attendant on the chartered aircraft and a frequent travel companion of Pawar on official trips, Mali died in the accident. Her father recalled speaking to her the day before the flight, when she mentioned her travel plans.
Captain Sumit Kapur – The pilot in command of the Learjet, Kapur was an experienced aviator with over 16,500 flight hours. His professional record marked him as a seasoned pilot trusted with carrying high-profile passengers.
Shambhavi Pathak – The co-pilot on the flight, Pathak had studied aeronautics at the University of Mumbai and trained at the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy. Her professional background reflected formal training in aviation and co-piloting duties.
The Learjet 45, registration VT-SSK, was operated by VSR Aviation and was a midsize business jet commonly used for charter and official travel.
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Assam: RSS files police complaints against Kharge for 'derogatory' remarks at poll rally
Guwahati (PTI): The RSS on Wednesday said it has filed complaints at two police stations in Assam against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly comparing the ideology of the organisation and the BJP with a 'poisonous snake' at an election rally.
The complaints were filed to seek legal action over alleged ''derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive statements made during a recent election rally in south Assam, a RSS spokesman said
In the complaints, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh alleged that the Congress chief had made controversial remarks during an election rally in Nilambazar under the Karimganj South assembly constituency in Sribhumi district.
"If a poisonous snake is moving in front of you while you are offering namaz, you must stop the prayer and rush to kill the poisonous snake first - that is what the Quran prescribes you to do. I tell you that the RSS and BJP are like that same poisonous snake,” Kharge was quoted as saying in the complaints.
The RSS expressed serious concern, claiming that such remarks were "inflammatory in nature and capable of inciting hostility, intimidation, and violence against workers and supporters of the RSS and the BJP".
The complaints pointed out that the statement constitutes a ''corrupt electoral practice under Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the remarks criminally intimidated the public and promoted enmity between supporters of different political and social groups''.
Describing the ideology of RSS and BJP as “poisonous” and calling for their elimination could encourage "bodily harm against members and supporters of these organisations", the complaints said.
Kharge's remarks attempt to promote ''communal division between Hindu and Muslim communities, potentially disturbing public peace and harmony in Assam and influencing the electoral environment", the RSS said.
The complainants also claimed that such statements might lead to communal tensions or clashes if not addressed promptly by authorities.
The complaints were filed by RSS' North Assam secretary Khagen Saikia at Dispur Police Station and South Assam's secretary Jyotsnamoy Chakraborty at Silchar PS.
The BJP had also filed complaints on the same allegations at the Basishta Police Station here and with the Election Commission on Tuesday.
