India, April 29 -- Rajya Sabha MP Parth Pawar on Tuesday said his recent travel in an aircraft operated by VSR Aviation was due to an "administrative mistake", after social activist Anjali Damania questioned the use of the company's services.

The controversy stems from the fact that a VSR Aviation aircraft crash near Baramati earlier this year claimed the life of his father, former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar.

In a statement, Pawar said he needed to urgently travel to Modi Baug in Pune to meet his grandfather, Sharad Pawar, and had asked his office to arrange a chartered aircraft at short notice.

"Due to the last-minute arrangement, a VSR Aviation aircraft was unknowingly booked for me. Until I reached the airport and boarded the ...