The Unassuming Protector: Remembering Ajit Pawar's Security Officer
In the quiet lanes of Surya Nagar in Vitawa, Thane, neighbours are coming to terms with the tragic loss of Vidit Jadhav, the personal security officer of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who perished in the aircraft crash on January 28, 2026. What emerges from their recollections is a portrait of a man who, despite guarding one of Maharashtra's most prominent political figures, maintained an exceptionally low profile in his personal life.
A Reserved Neighbour with a High-Profile Duty
Residents of the Vitawa area describe Jadhav as soft-spoken and reserved, someone who largely kept to himself. According to multiple neighbours, many in the locality only learned about his "high-profile" posting after seeing his photograph with Ajit Pawar on a television news channel.
"He never spoke about his duty," said Rishi Borse, who lives opposite Jadhav's residence and was close to the family. "Another person would have bragged about it, but he was sheepish if anyone came to know about it. He was never arrogant about his important assignment."
Vidya Sane, another neighbour, confirmed this observation. "It was only when we once saw his photograph with Ajit Pawar on the news that we asked his family and came to know about it," she recalled. "While he largely kept to himself and was away on work for most occasions, his family was social and we confirmed from them that he was working with Dada."
The Final Morning and Personal Interests
Borse shared poignant memories of Jadhav's final morning. "Bala Mama (as Jadhav was fondly called) left on the bike while I was going to college," he remembered. "He said he was in a hurry and was going to work." While Borse knew that "work" meant security duty with Ajit Pawar, he emphasized that most people in the area were unaware of the nature of Jadhav's posting.
The neighbour also recalled Jadhav's personal interests, particularly his fascination with action- and security-related shows. "Whenever a new show in that genre came, he would immediately see it and give me recommendations," Borse said. "Mostly when he was off duty, he was watching shows on his mobile phone with earphones plugged in." He added that Jadhav often encouraged him to exercise and apply to the police academy.
Family Life and Police Career
Vidit Jadhav lived with his parents, wife Sandhya, and two children—13-year-old daughter Netra and 9-year-old son Advik—in the Surya Nagar area of Vitawa in Thane (east). A native of Satara, Jadhav joined the Mumbai Police in 2009 and was later posted with the Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the State Intelligence Department (SID), from where he was deputed as Ajit Pawar's security officer.
Aruna Vidhate, another neighbour, provided details about the family. "His wife Sandhya worked at a nearby hospital and his father had retired as a school employee," she said.
Chanda Ringe, another resident, described the heartbreaking scene when news of the crash reached the neighbourhood. "When we found out, we rushed to their house," she said. "She and her grandson Advik were crying. Soon a police team reached the house and later the family left for their native place in Satara." Ringe noted that Jadhav's father had left for their native place two days earlier, while his wife and daughter had gone to her mother's house, leaving only Jadhav's mother and son at home when the tragedy occurred.
The Tragic Flight and Investigation
The aircraft crash that claimed Jadhav's life along with Ajit Pawar and three others occurred on January 28, 2026. The Learjet 45 (registration VT-SSK), operated by VSR Aviation, took off from Mumbai airport at 8:10 AM with five people aboard: Pawar, PSO Jadhav, attendant Mali, and pilots Kapoor and Pathak.
The 35-minute flight was tracked on the Mumbai-Baramati route via Flightradar24, following a path from Mumbai to Pune to Baramati. At approximately 8:45 AM, the aircraft disappeared from tracking, with a final approach loop pattern detected before the crash. Eyewitness accounts described the aircraft making noise during landing before sliding off the runway and exploding.
The twin-engine business jet, with a 6-seat capacity, was on a campaign trip for four election rallies ahead of the Zilla Parishad polls scheduled for February 5 voting with results on February 7.
As investigations continue into the circumstances of the crash, the memory of Vidit Jadhav remains vivid in his neighbourhood—not as a high-profile security officer, but as the quiet, unassuming neighbour who performed his duty with humility and discretion.
