Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died on January 28 following a tragic chartered plane crash at Baramati Airport. He was travelling from Mumbai to Baramati to address a rally when the incident occurred.
The crash reportedly took place during a second landing attempt amid poor visibility. Along with Pawar, the accident claimed the lives of two pilots, Sumit Kapur and Sambhavi Pathak, his personal security officer Vidip Jadhav, and flight attendant Pinky Mali.
Ajit Pawar's last rites were held on January 29, 2026, in Baramati. On January 30, his ashes were immersed by his sons.
Several political leaders and social media users have expressed shock over the untimely demise of the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, with some calling it foul play and demanding a strict and transparent probe. Even flight attendant Pinky Mali's mother has expressed disbelief over the incident and has sought an investigation. Many political figures and netizens have joined in urging authorities to probe the crash.
Actor, dancer and influencer Rakhi Sawant also reacted to Ajit Pawar's death. On Friday, she was seen interacting with the paparazzi, where she shared her views and termed the incident a conspiracy.
When asked about Pawar's demise, Rakhi was heard saying in Hindi, "Ajit Dada ke liye main shraddhanjali dene aayi hoon. Bohot zyada dukh hua hai. Lekin koi kuch bhi bole, yeh shadyantra hai. Woh humare favourite neta the. Yeh ek shadyantra hai."(I have come to pay my respects to Ajit Dada. I am extremely saddened. But no matter what anyone says, this is a conspiracy. He was our favourite leader. This is a conspiracy.)
However, Rakhi Sawant also faced backlash online for her choice of attire. She was brutally trolled for wearing a body-hugging maroon one-piece outfit with a high slit and boots while paying tribute.
Several netizens criticised the actor, calling her outfit inappropriate for a public and solemn occasion.
