 "The mortal remains of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar arrive at the Vidya Pratishthan College ground for public homage at Baramati in Pune district. (Image: PTI)")
Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was cremated with full state honours at Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, Pune on Thursday. Pawar and four others were killed after an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district on Wednesday morning.
He was travelling to Baramati from Mumbai to address public meetings as part of the campaign for the February 5 zilla parishad elections in the State.
Officials probing the crash have recovered both the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder from the site, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) confirmed.
“Following the unfortunate aircraft accident near Baramati, all requisite response and investigative mechanisms were activated immediately. Ensuring a thorough, transparent, and time-bound inquiry remains a top priority. A team of three officers from AAIB, Delhi, and another team of three officers from the DGCA, Mumbai Regional Office, reached the crash site on 28 January. The Director General, AAIB, also arrived at the site the same day. The investigation is progressing expeditiously, and the black box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered,” the ministry wrote.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) remains fully committed to completing the investigation within a defined timeframe, strictly in accordance with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and laid-down guidelines. The investigation has been initiated in accordance with Rules 5 and 11 of the AAIB Rules, 2025,” the statement read.
The Pune Rural Police have filed an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at the Baramati Taluka Police Station and begun further investigative procedures.
“Pune Rural Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) at Baramati Taluka Police Station regarding the air crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lost his life. Further investigations have been initiated,” a Pune police official quoted by TOI said.
Tens of thousands of mourners gathered at the cremation grounds to pay their last respects to Pawar.