In Maharashtra Assembly, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit seeks judicial probe in Ajit Pawar plane crash

Mumbai, Jul 9 (PTI) Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (SP)'s MLA Rohit Pawar on Thursday demanded a judicial inquiry into the plane crash that killed former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the ongoing investigation. Initiating discussion on the Opposition-sponsored 'Last Week Motion' in the Assembly, the MLA said he was not in favour of a CBI inquiry and insisted on a judicial probe headed by a retired judge to ensure an independent investigation into the crash in January. A 'Last Week Motion' is an Opposition-sponsored debate convened towards the end of a legislative session. He pointed out that even allies of the BJP-led ruling coalition had sought a CBI inquiry, but no decision had been taken on the issue and added delays in the investigation would erode people's confidence in the justice system. Recalling Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' earlier assurance that those responsible for the air disaster would be identified "at any cost", Rohit Pawar maintained several months had passed without visible progress in the crash probe and many questions still remained unanswered. The Opposition legislator, a nephew of Ajit Pawar, claimed he and his colleagues had independently collected evidence relating to the case and would place it before people if necessary. Ajit Pawar, who headed the ruling NCP, and four others onboard a chartered plane were killed when it crashed while attempting to land near the Baramati airport in Pune district on January 28. Soon after the crash, Rohit Pawar raised several allegations regarding the circumstances of the air disaster and suspected foul play. PTI MR RSY