Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the zero FIR registered in Bengaluru in connection with the plane crash that killed then Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on January 28 was an alleged attempt by the neighbouring Congress-led Karnataka government to “defame” the State.
Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) [NCP-SP] MLA Rohit Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s nephew, said on Tuesday that, as the Maharashtra police failed to register an FIR on his complaint alleging negligence in connection with the air crash, he filed a zero FIR in Bengaluru.
Replying to a motion moved by the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Fadnavis said, “What Karnataka has done is to defame Maharashtra by suggesting that the probe in the Ajit Pawar matter is not being conducted fairly. Karnataka should have told you [Rohit Pawar] that a zero FIR cannot be registered here.”
Mr. Fadnavis said he did not doubt the NCP (SP) MLA’s actions or intent. However, he objected to the perception that the Bharatiya Janata Party was attempting to hinder an impartial probe or the registration of an FIR in the matter.
He said that a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department is under way, and an Accidental Death Report (ADR) has been registered. The State government has also written to the Centre seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe in accordance with the family’s wishes, Mr. Fadnavis added.
