Mumbai: In a tragic revelation that highlights the sheer severity of the plane crash in Baramati, sources have said that Ajit Pawar’s body was identified through his wristwatch. According to sources, the watch became his final proof of identity, offering a grim indication of how devastating the accident was. Notably, Pawar was often seen wearing a silver-chained watch with a black dial, although it remains unclear which watch he had worn on Wednesday morning — the day of the fatal plane crash.
Ajit Pawar’s close aide Vidip Jadhav, Personal Security Officer Pinky Mali, pilot Capt. Sumit Kapur, and co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, were on board during the plane crash.
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28 Jan 2026
Bombardier Learjet 45: The aircraft that crashed
Ajit Pawar was travelling on a Bombardier Learjet 45 business jet, owned by a Delhi-based firm VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. The Learjet 45 (LJ45), a mid-size business jet aircraft produced by the Learjet Division of Bombardier Aerospace.
Maharashtra declares three-day mourning
The Maharashtra government announced a three-day mourning as a mark of respect on the passing away of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he lost a good friend with the passing away of his Deputy, Ajit Pawar. “There is an atmosphere of sadness in the state. Losing a leader like him is an unprecedented loss. In personal life, he was a good friend. We faced many challenges together. At a time when he was contributing to Maharashtra’s development, his untimely demise is a loss. We stand with his family. I, along with Eknath Shinde ji, will go to Baramati today. I have informed the PM and HM about the incident, and they have expressed sadness over it,” he said.
“The death of my friend, colleague, and grassroot leader Ajit Pawar is distressing. It is heartbreaking. My heart is numb. I have no words to express my feelings. This is a personal loss for me. This is an irreparable loss and a difficult day for Maharashtra.” Fadnavis added.
“We share the grief of his entire family and the NCP family. Four other people died in this accident. We share the grief of their families too. I have cancelled all my events. I am leaving for Baramati shortly,” said CM Fadnavis.
Bollywood celebrities pay tribute to Ajit Pawar
Bollywood celebrities, including actors Riteish Deshmukh and Anupam Kher, paid tribute to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who lost his life in a fatal plane crash near Baramati.
Deshmukh shared an old photo of Ajit Pawar with his late father Vilasrao Deshmukh and remembered him as one of the dynamic leaders of the state.
“Deeply shocked and terribly heartbroken to learn that we have lost Ajit Dada in a tragic accident. One of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders, he had zero tolerance for non-performance and constantly pushed and inspired those around him to excel. He never minced his words, his wit was unmatched, and he was deeply loved across the state,” Deshmukh said in a post.
Veteran actor Anupam Kher recalled his meeting with Pawar. “Whenever I met him he was very gentle and kind! My thoughts are with his family,” Kher said in a social media post.
Huge crowd gathers outside Baramati Hospital
A huge crowd of Ajit Pawar’s admirers and well-wishers has gathered outside Baramati hospital, where the mortal remains of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister have been kept following a fatal plane crash.
