Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, has issued his clarification over the controversy involving a viral video where he was allegedly seen warning a woman IPS officer in Solapur during an investigation into illegal soil excavation.
The matter came to light when IPS officer Anjali Krishna was carrying out action against unauthorized excavation of murrum soil in Kurdu village, Solapur. The murrum soil, mainly used in road construction as a filling material, was being excavated without any legal permission. During this, a telephonic exchange between Krishna and Pawar surfaced online, sparking strong reactions.
In the video, Pawar can be heard introducing himself and asking the officer to stop her investigation, even suggesting the reason she could cite for halting the proceedings. When Krishna refused to confirm his voice and instead asked him to directly call her number, Pawar allegedly raised his tone, saying, “How dare you?” and warned of possible action.
He further insisted that she recognise him through a video call and even asked for her personal number.
The clip, once circulated widely, led to heated discussions and criticism on social media. Ajit Pawar shared his clarification on X in response to the controversy. He clarifies that he intended to maintain order on the ground and prevent an unnecessary escalation of the situation, not to break the law or disrupt the officer’s job.
सोलापूर जिल्ह्यातील पोलीस अधिकाऱ्यांसोबतच्या संवादाच्या संदर्भात काही व्हिडिओ समाजमाध्यमांवर प्रसारित होत आहेत. मी स्पष्टपणे सांगू इच्छितो की, माझा उद्देश कायद्याच्या अंमलबजावणीमध्ये हस्तक्षेप करण्याचा नव्हता, तर त्या ठिकाणी परिस्थिती शांत रहावी आणि ती अधिक बिघडू नये याची काळजी…
— Ajit Pawar (@AjitPawarSpeaks) September 5, 2025
In addition, Pawar emphasised his commitment to enforcing the law and expressed his admiration for the police, especially for the female officers who serve with courage and distinction.
He further emphasised that he stands against all forms of illegal activity, including sand mining as well. Pawar assured that transparency in governance and respect for institutions.
