India, Feb. 24 -- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday grounded four aircraft operated by VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd due to multiple violations discovered in a special safety audit conducted after the fatal Learjet 45 crash in Baramati on January 28 in which NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed, officials aware of the matter said.

"The audit was ordered on February 2. It commenced on February 4 and was completed by February 16 after which the findings were analysed before a final decision was taken," an official in the know of the development said.

The audit team was led by RK Anand, Deputy Director General, and included Pathik Vaghela, Deputy Director (Air Safety); Sushil Malik, Deputy Director (Airworthiness); and Siva Ku...