Following the devastating plane crash that claimed the life of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on January 28, 2026, a screenshot began circulating on social media that appeared to show his Wikipedia page had been updated with his death information hours before the incident occurred. The image fueled widespread speculation about potential foul play in the tragedy that also killed four others aboard the aircraft.
The Viral Screenshot and Its Claims
The screenshot in question showed Ajit Pawar's Wikipedia page apparently updated on January 27—a full day before the crash—with details about his death. This timing discrepancy immediately raised suspicions among netizens and political observers, leading to heated discussions about whether the incident was truly accidental.
Understanding the Time Zone Factor
However, experts point to a crucial technical detail that likely explains the confusion: Wikipedia operates on Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes behind Indian Standard Time (IST). This means that an update made at 10:30 AM IST would appear as 5:00 AM UTC on the platform.
This time zone difference could easily account for timestamps that appear to precede the actual crash, especially for users unfamiliar with how Wikipedia records edit times. When converted properly between time zones, the supposedly "early" updates may have actually occurred after the tragic incident.
Evidence of Possible Manipulation
Beyond the time zone explanation, the circulating screenshot contains another red flag that suggests digital manipulation. The year displayed in the image reads "20266"—an obvious typo that wouldn't appear on the actual Wikipedia site. This error strongly indicates that the screenshot may have been edited, potentially by someone rushing to create misleading content.
At the time of reporting, Ajit Pawar's actual Wikipedia page contains accurate information consistent with confirmed reports of the incident.
Political Response and Calls for Investigation
The tragedy and subsequent rumors prompted strong reactions from political figures. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for a Supreme Court-supervised investigation, stating, "We have trust only in the Supreme Court and no other agency," while expressing concerns that other investigative agencies have been "completely compromised."
However, in a move to quell speculation, veteran politician Sharad Pawar—Ajit Pawar's uncle and Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) chief—firmly dismissed conspiracy theories. In a video statement, he emphasized that his nephew's death was "purely an accident" and urged the public and media not to politicize the tragedy.
"I learned that some media outlets have taken a stance from Kolkata suggesting that there is some politics behind this accident. But there is no politics in this; it is purely an accident," Sharad Pawar stated, adding that Maharashtra had lost "a capable and decisive leader."
Details of the Tragic Crash
On January 28, 2026, Ajit Pawar was traveling aboard a Learjet 45XR, a twin-engine light business jet, from Mumbai to his political stronghold of Baramati. The flight departed at 8:10 AM and was scheduled to land at 8:50 AM. However, during the landing approach, the aircraft crashed and was quickly engulfed in flames.
All five people aboard were killed, including the pilots, a flight attendant, and Pawar's security personnel. The Deputy Chief Minister was making the trip following his recent electoral victory in the region. Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the crash.
The Verdict
While the viral screenshot initially appeared suspicious, closer examination reveals two likely explanations: either a misunderstanding of Wikipedia's UTC timestamp system, or deliberate manipulation evidenced by the typo showing the year as "20266." The claims that Ajit Pawar's death was updated on Wikipedia before it happened appear to be unfounded.
As Maharashtra mourns the loss of its Deputy Chief Minister, authorities continue their investigation into what caused the fatal crash. Until official findings are released, speculation and conspiracy theories only add to the grief of a tragedy that has shocked the entire state.
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