Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday clarified his role following a video that allegedly showed him rebuking a woman IPS officer in Solapur over the phone, which went viral on social media. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Pawar stated that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure calm on the ground and prevent escalation. He emphasized his respect for the police force, including women officers, and reaffirmed his commitment to transparent governance and strict action against illegal activities, including sand and murrum mining.

The video reportedly shows Pawar contacting Anjana Krishna, Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Karmala, first via an NCP worker’s phone, and later through a video call, instructing her to temporarily halt the action against illegal murrum excavation used in road construction.

NCP state president Sunil Tatkare claimed the video was deliberately leaked and suggested that Pawar’s intention was only to pacify party workers temporarily, not to condone illegal activities.

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized Pawar, accusing him of protecting “thieves” and asserting that he has no right to remain in the government. Raut condemned the Deputy CM for allegedly instructing an IPS officer to back illegal excavation, describing it as a loss to the state exchequer and calling for accountability.