In a dramatic escalation of the Ajit Pawar plane crash saga, NCP legislator Rohit Pawar has questioned the CBI’s arrest of a DGCA Deputy Director, branding it a mere appetizer in exposing aviation sector graft. The Monday arrest from the Airworthiness wing, accompanied by an FIR, spotlights what Pawar calls rampant bribery enabling unsafe flights.
Posting on X, Pawar minced no words: ‘This small fish is caught, but massive sharks lurk in DGCA.’ He connected dots to VK Singh, a bribery expert who allegedly ‘cleaned’ crash-related papers. Pawar has long campaigned against DGCA’s internal rot, particularly around the Learjet 45 incident tied to VSR Ventures.
Key allegations include manipulated pilot logs to meet regulations, deliberate sabotage of CVR data, and clearance for a plane with known defects amid operator financial woes. Despite Pawar’s two-month plea for CBI intervention, the agency moved unilaterally—possibly signaling to TDP-led Andhra Pradesh on delimitation compliance.
Pawar’s letters to top ministers demand full disclosure, framing the crash as potential conspiracy. This exposé challenges India’s civil aviation framework, where regulatory capture allegedly prioritizes profits over lives. With Pawar at the forefront, expect intensified scrutiny that could lead to sweeping audits and accountability measures across the board.
The political undercurrents hint at broader rivalries, as Sharad Pawar faction leverages the scandal to pressure rivals.
