Amid ongoing political allegations and counter-allegations surrounding the plane crash involving late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief National Spokesperson Umesh Patil on Wednesday made a sensational statement.

Patil claimed that it is his “gut feeling” that Ajitdada’s death was not merely an accident, but a suspected conspiracy. He also clarified that Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar are actively pursuing this matter.

Earlier, senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam had directly demanded an inquiry into NCP Maharashtra President and MP Sunil Tatkare over Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, levelling serious allegations against him.

While NCP leaders were responding to these allegations, Umesh Patil’s expression of doubt regarding the tragedy has once again given a new political turn to the case.

Expressing suspicion over Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, Patil said, “Based on my close association and observations of various things, and considering the sequence of events during the tragedy and the potential reasons behind it, I feel that this was not an accident, but a conspiracy.”

He added that appropriate follow-up is underway on the right platform, with Sunetra Pawar, Parth Pawar, and Jay Pawar also making efforts in this regard.

Speaking on the investigation into the plane crash, Patil noted that the incident involves multiple technical aspects and stated that it would not be appropriate to comment further until the reports from relevant investigative agencies are released.

Following Ramdas Kadam’s allegations, Patil’s raising of suspicions regarding the crash is likely to heat the political atmosphere in the state once again.

Meanwhile, NCP SP MLA Rohit Pawar announced that he will address a major press conference in Mumbai on November 14 or 15 to unveil crucial findings regarding the tragic plane crash that claimed the life of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.

The statement comes amidst heightened political tension and allegations of foul play following the crash of the VSR Ventures Learjet 45 near Baramati Airport on January 28, 2026.

Calling his scheduled November 14/15 press conference his “most important presentation,” Rohit Pawar stated that he plans to present key evidence, phone records, and technical observations surrounding the final moments of the flight.

He reiterated that a large segment of the public in Maharashtra suspects the crash was not a mere accident, but a potential case of foul play.

He criticised the state government and investigating agencies for moving at a “saintly pace” and failing to register a formal FIR to resolve growing public suspicion.

Responding to a question about the allegations made by senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam against NCP state president Sunil Tatkare in connection with the plane crash, Rohit Pawar reacted to these allegations.

“I have not heard what Ramdas Kadam has accused. But some people called and told me that Ramdas Kadam has linked Sunil Tatkare’s name to Ajit Pawar’s accident. My only opinion is that the investigation into Ajit Pawar’s accident is not being done in the way it should be,” he alleged.

“We suspect that Ajit Pawar’s accident was a case of sabotage. But the people in power are not dispelling that suspicion,” he said.

He added that the investigation is not going in the right direction, adding that the investigation of Ajit Dada is going on at a snail’s pace.

“We are also starting to have doubts about the investigation. The people in power are deliberately not investigating properly. Still, let Diwali happen once. On November 14 or 15, I will give my last and most important presentation of many days in Mumbai. The revelations I am going to make in that regard will definitely be surprising for you,” he said.

He further added that every person in Maharashtra has doubts about Ajit Pawar’s accident.

Saying that 90 per cent of people suspect that Ajit’s accident was not an accident but a hit-and-run, he added, “We also have the same opinion.”

He said that if an FIR is not filed in this case in a state like Maharashtra, then the ruling party is saving the person responsible for Ajit’s accident.

Another woman has died following childbirth in Kota, Rajasthan, taking the number of maternal deaths reported in the district to four in just 15 days. The latest victim, 28-year-old Pushpa Bairwa, succumbed to complications arising from severe postpartum haemorrhage, which led to Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and respiratory failure.

Despite intensive treatment and the efforts of doctors from multiple departments, she could not be saved. The successive deaths have raised serious concerns about maternal healthcare and the management of childbirth-related complications in the region.

Pushpa Bairwa, a resident of Baran district, died on Monday night while undergoing treatment at the Super Speciality Hospital of Kota Medical College.

She had been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Nephrology Department and was on ventilator support.

According to medical details, her condition deteriorated after she developed uncontrolled bleeding following childbirth. Investigations revealed that she had developed Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), a serious condition that disrupts the body’s blood-clotting mechanism and can cause life-threatening bleeding.

The complications severely affected her kidneys and lungs, eventually leading to respiratory failure. This was the fourth maternal death reported in Kota within 15 days. Pushpa was experiencing motherhood for the first time.

She had been admitted to a hospital in Jhalawar, where she delivered a healthy baby girl through a normal delivery on October 27. However, barely an hour after childbirth, she began experiencing severe and uncontrollable bleeding. Doctors attempted to control the haemorrhage and administered five to six units of blood, but the bleeding could not be brought under control.

As her condition continued to worsen, she was referred to a hospital in Kota for advanced treatment. Dr Vikas Khandelia, Head of the Nephrology Department at the Super Speciality Hospital, explained that Pushpa had developed DIC, a condition that severely disrupts the body’s normal blood-clotting process. Continuous blood loss caused her blood pressure to drop, affecting the functioning of her kidneys and lungs.

Her platelet count and haemoglobin levels also fell significantly. Following dialysis and other medical interventions, her kidney function showed some improvement, with urine output reaching approximately three litres per day.

However, her lung condition continued to deteriorate. She developed severe respiratory distress and could not be taken off ventilator support. Specialists from several departments, including Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Anaesthesia, Pulmonology and Gynaecology, were involved in her treatment.

Despite their combined efforts, she could not be saved. Pushpa’s death is the latest in a series of maternal deaths reported in Kota over the past fortnight.

The deceased women include Shabnam Bano (26), a resident of Chhabra in Baran district, who died at JK Lon Hospital on October 25. She had delivered a baby girl through a Caesarean section on October 23.

On October 17, Roshan Bairwa died following excessive bleeding after a Caesarean section. On October 16, Reshma (40) died due to kidney failure following a Caesarean section.

The four deaths within such a short period have raised questions about the management of childbirth-related complications and the availability of timely emergency medical intervention. Kota witnessed another alarming series of childbirth-related complications in May.

Between May 5 and May 7, several women developed serious health complications following Caesarean deliveries. A total of 12 women reportedly suffered kidney failure. Five of these women died, while the remaining patients recovered following treatment and were discharged from the hospital.

The repeated maternal deaths have raised serious questions about the effectiveness of emergency obstetric care, timely referrals, access to blood transfusions and the management of life-threatening complications following delivery.

Postpartum haemorrhage is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. If bleeding cannot be controlled promptly, it can lead to severe blood loss, organ damage and potentially fatal complications such as DIC.

Although the precise circumstances surrounding each death need to be established through medical investigations, the recurrence of such cases highlights the need to examine emergency response systems, early diagnosis, referral arrangements and the availability of specialised care.

The most pressing question remains: Why are so many women losing their lives after childbirth in Kota, and what measures are being taken to prevent further maternal deaths?

A 32-year-old driver was shot dead inside his rented house by two unidentified assailants in Simri village under the Bihta police station area of Patna district late Tuesday night, police said on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Irfan Imam, alias Kallu Driver. He had been living in a rented house in Simri village with his wife, Neha Parveen, and their two sons for the past two years.

According to information, the incident took place around 11.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

The two assailants allegedly arrived at the house and got the door open. As soon as Irfan opened it, they shot him in the head and fled with his mobile phone.

Hearing the gunshot, neighbours rushed to the house but found Irfan dead.

At the time of the incident, his elder son was reportedly sleeping beside him, while his wife and younger son had gone to visit her maternal relatives nearby.

The motive behind the murder remains unclear. However, reports suggest that an ongoing family dispute had prompted Irfan to live separately from his wife and children in a rented accommodation.

His wife told police that around a month ago, while the couple was returning from Ara on a motorcycle, unidentified persons had fired shots in the air near Maudahi village in Bihta. They escaped unharmed in that incident.

After receiving information about the murder, a police team reached the spot and launched an investigation. A spent bullet casing was recovered from the scene.

Bihta Station House Officer Amit Kumar said villagers informed the police around 11.30 p.m. that a man had been shot dead in Simri village.

“The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head, which proved fatal. A spent bullet casing has been recovered from the spot. The motive behind the incident is not yet clear. The deceased’s wife and other family members are being questioned,” the SHO said.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder and searching for the assailants.