'Intention was not to interfere...' Maharashtra DyCM Ajit Pawar on viral video rebuking woman IPS officer
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has offered a clarification about his viral video interaction with a woman police officer in Solapur, stating his intention was to de-escalate a situation, not to interfere with law enforcement.
The incident involved the illegal excavation of 'murrum', a substance used in road construction, and led to accusations from the opposition of threatening a public official.
The controversy began when a video circulated showing Pawar speaking on the phone with Anjana Krishna, a sub-divisional police officer in Solapur's Karmala. Krishna, recently posted to Maharashtra, was handed a phone by an NCP worker and told Pawar was on the line. Unfamiliar with his voice, she asked him to call her on her personal cell phone.
In the recording, Pawar is heard saying, "Mai tere upar action lunga (I will act against you)," he then adds, "Tujhe mujhe dekhna hai na? Tera number de do ya WhatsApp call karo. Mera chehra toh aapko samajh mein aaega na? (You want to see me, right? Give me your number or call me on WhatsApp. You will recognise my face, right?)" He concludes by asking, "Itna aapko daring hua hai kya (how dare you?)," before allegedly video-calling her and asking her to stop the action she was taking.
The incident drew immediate criticism from the opposition, including Shiv Sena (Udhhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut, who accused the Deputy CM of protecting "thieves" and questioned his commitment to discipline while serving as the state's finance minister.
"You are threatening an IPS officer. He is heard saying that he will not tolerate indiscipline. Then what is this? That too, to protect the thieves of his own party. Mr Pawar, where is your sense of discipline? Illegal excavation of 'murrum' means defrauding the state's treasury and you are the finance minister. Yet you did it," Raut said.
In a statement on X, Pawar expressed his "highest respect" for the police force. "My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur," he wrote.
"Let me state clearly that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further. I have the highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve with distinction and courage and I value the rule of law above all. I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and to ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law."