Maharashtra Minority Department Denies Issuing Certificates on Ajit Pawar's Death Day Amid Controversy

Following Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar's death in a January 28, 2026 plane crash, Maharashtra's Minority Development Department clarified that no files were digitally signed nor minority status certificates issued that day. The clarification addresses controversy over the rapid granting of minority status to 75 educational institutions shortly after Pawar's death. Minority status offers regulatory benefits, including exemptions from certain Right to Education Act provisions. A high-level inquiry was ordered amid allegations of irregularities, with officials emphasizing that the certification process follows established government protocols and district-level verification.