A video has surfaced from Solapur district showing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar purportedly reprimanding a woman IPS officer during action against illegal 'murrum' soil excavation.
According to reports, the incident occurred two days ago when Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Anjana Krishna was acting against the illegal excavation.
In the viral clip, Pawar is said to have first spoken to her on the phone of an NCP worker. As Krishna did not recognise his voice, Pawar later connected via video call and sternly asked her to stop the operation.
“Suno, mai deputy chief minister bol raha hu aur aapko aadesh deta hu ki vo rokwao (Listen, I am the deputy chief minister and giving you the order to stop it),” Pawar can be heard telling the IPS officer.
“Itna aapko daring hua hai kya (how dare you),” he asked the officer.
The officer is heard saying she had not realised she was speaking to the Deputy CM, after which Pawar asked if she could now recognise him on video.
Murrum soil is widely used as a sub-base material in road construction, making its excavation a lucrative but often illegal trade.
Reacting to the controversy, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare defended Pawar, claiming the video was "deliberately leaked." He said Pawar never supports illegal activity but may have spoken sharply to pacify party workers present at the site.
"Ajit Dada may have scolded the IPS officer only to defuse the situation. He didn't intend to stop the action altogether," Tatkare clarified, adding that Pawar is known for his blunt style of speaking.
