MUMBAI — Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar landed in a controversy after a few-day-old video surfaced in which he is heard rebuking a woman IPS officer, Anjana Krishna, who was in the midst of taking action against illegal excavation of ‘murrum’ soil in Solapur district.
NCP, however, claimed that Pawar didn’t intend to stop the action but might have berated the officer to placate party workers, PTI reports.
In the video aired on regional news channels, Pawar purportedly speaks to Anjana Krishna, sub-divisional police officer, Karmala, from the phone of an NCP worker. However, the Indian Police Service (IPS) officer doesn’t recognise his voice.
According to media reports, Anjana Krishna had gone to act on complaints of illegal excavation of ‘murrum’ (soil used in road construction). However, the villagers clashed with the police party, after which the NCP unit came into the picture. One of the party workers, Baba Jagtap, dialed Pawar and handed over the phone to the police officer.
“I am unable to figure out if I am talking to the Deputy Chief Minister. Can you please call me on my number directly?” the officer said over the phone.
This rattled Pawar, who responded: “Just a minute… I will take action against you… I am myself talking to you, and you are asking me to call you directly. You want to see me… take my number and make a WhatsApp call… itna aapko daring hua hai kya ((How dare you?),” said Pawar.
Pawar, however, in a brief statement said, “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”.
