Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar passed away in a horrific plane crash on January 28, 2026. His last rites were performed with full state honours at Baramati in the Pune area on Thursday.
Several political figures travelled to Baramati to attend the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister's burial.
However, the Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh, the son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, also attended the last rites to pay his final respects to the late politician.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also attended the last rites at the Vidya Pratishthan venue in Baramati, the Pawar family's homeland, which is roughly 100 kilometres from Pune.
As his mortal remains, wrapped in the national flag, were transported from his hamlet of Katewadi to the location, thousands of mourners gathered and chants of "Ajit Dada amar rahe" sounded from the crowd.
NCP (SP) chairman Sharad Pawar sat silently when Pawar's sons, Parth and Jay, lit the cremation pyre. Prataprao Pawar, his younger brother, was also there.
Actor Riteish Deshmukh expressed his profound sorrow over Ajit Pawar's unexpected passing. Riteish described him as "one of Maharashtra's most dynamic leaders," praising his straightforward demeanour, keen sense of humour, and strong work ethic.
Riteish stated on X (previously Twitter) that Ajit Pawar's sudden death has left a gap that cannot be filled. He sent the Pawar family, friends, and supporters his sincere sympathies.
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… pic.twitter.com/nGQ3M1xf0Z — Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) January 28, 2026
He tweeted, “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.”
The actor added, “His untimely demise leaves behind a huge loss and an irreplaceable void. I have had the pleasure of interacting with him numerous times, will always remember for the kindness he showered upon me. My deepest condolences to the Pawar family, his loved ones, and millions of supporters.”
On Wednesday, Ajit Pawar died in an aircraft accident close to Baramati. Pawar and the other six passengers on board perished in the incident, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Almost an hour after taking off from Mumbai, the plane reportedly crashed while landing close to Baramati.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
Find the best of Al News in one place, specially curated for you every weekend.
Stay on top of the latest tech trends and biggest startup news.
