Mumbai, February 26 Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde directed the state government on Thursday to present the facts related to the air crash in which Ajit Pawar died before the House.
Raising the issue in the House, NCP (SP) MLC Shashikant Shinde moved an adjournment motion demanding discussion on the January 28 crash.
He said that several people, including lawmakers Amol Mitkari and Rohit Pawar, have raised suspicions about Ajit Pawar's death. He added that many have sought a CBI investigation.
Shashikant Shinde said that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had ordered the grounding of four aircraft of VSR Ventures due to non-compliance with approved procedures in the areas of airworthiness, air safety, and flight operations.
VSR Ventures operated the ill-fated Learjet-45 plane that crashed in Baramati in Pune district on January 28.
"It is unfortunate that an FIR is not being registered even after the DGCA order. This leads to suspicion. There was a lack of concern on the part of the company," Shashikant Shinde claimed. Rohit Pawar and Mitkari have been seeking an FIR against VSR Ventures.
Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde rejected the motion. However, he said, "Given the seriousness of the issue, I am directing the state government to issue a statement and present the relevant facts (related to the air crash) before the House."
Targeting VSR Ventures, Shashikant Shinde sought details on the investors of the aviation company and asked, "Was this an accident or some kind of sabotage?"
The NCP (SP) MLC said that the state government has said that it has sought a CBI investigation and has requested the Centre to initiate it, but there is no clarity on the matter.
In a related development, in the legislative council, Mitkari demanded action against a Mumbai deputy commissioner of police for not accepting his and Rohit Pawar's plea for an FIR against VSR Ventures, as well as for misbehaving with lawmakers.
