Karnataka transfers 'Zero FIR' in Ajit Pawar plane crash to Maharashtra Police

The Karnataka Police on Wednesday transferred the lsquoZero FIRrsquo registered in connection with the plane crash that killed senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar to the Maharashtra Police citing jurisdictional grounds reported news agency IANSThe case initially filed in Bengaluru has now been forwarded along with all relevant documents with a request to hand it over to the Baramati Rural Police Station in Pune district for further investigation reported IANSFIR Transfer Initiated on Jurisdiction GroundsKarnataka Additional Director General of Police Crime and Technical Services P Harishekaran formally communicated the transfer request to the Maharashtra Director General of Police reported IANSThe Zero FIR was originally registered at High Grounds Police Station in Bengaluru allowing the complaint to be filed irrespective of where the incident occurred Authorities have now sought its transfer to the appropriate jurisdiction in Maharashtra reported IANSComplaint Alleges Criminal Conspiracy Behind CrashThe FIR was filed by Rohit Pawar who alleged a larger conspiracy behind the January 28 2026 plane crash near Baramati Airport that claimed five lives including Ajit Pawar reported IANSThe complaint calls for a full criminal investigation and seeks to identify all individuals responsible alleging that the crash was not merely accidental but part of a planned actDelay in FIR Registration Raises QuestionsAccording to the complaint attempts were initially made to file an FIR in Maharashtra including at police stations in Mumbai and Baramati but were unsuccessful This led to the filing of a Zero FIR in Bengaluru reported IANSPolice sources noted that the delay in registration was due to the complainantrsquos earlier efforts to pursue the matter within Maharashtra before approaching authorities in Karnataka reported IANSTechnical and Safety Violations HighlightedThe FIR raises multiple concerns regarding the aircraft involved mdash a Bombardier Learjet 45 operated by a private company It alleges that the aircraft may have been operating beyond permissible safety limits and that maintenance records could have been falsifiedThe complaint also references a safety audit by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA which reportedly flagged issues related to airworthiness and compliance reported IANSQuestions Over Pilot Crew and Flight ConditionsFurther allegations include concerns about the pilotrsquos past record lastminute crew changes and irregularities in flight operations The complaint points to possible lapses in judgment and adherence to safety protocolsWeather conditions at the time of landing and runway changes shortly before touchdown have also been cited as factors requiring deeper investigationCall for Independent Criminal ProbeThe complainant has demanded that the investigation go beyond the technical inquiry being conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB urging authorities to examine the possibility of criminal intentThe FIR invokes multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and calls for accountability across all levels including operators regulators and other involved parties reported IANSCase Moves to Maharashtra for Further ActionWith the FIR now transferred the Maharashtra Police are expected to take over the investigation and determine the course of actionWith inputs from IANS