Pressure Mounts on Ajit Pawar for Intimidating IPS Officer

Mumbai: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Friday denied allegations of interfering in police work or pressuring junior IPS officer Anjali Krishna to halt action against illegal murrum (gravel) excavation. The controversy arose after a phone and subsequent video call between Pawar and the officer — now viral on social media — surfaced, sparking public and political backlash.

Referring to the viral video, Pawar claimed he only emphasised the importance of maintaining law and order. However, activist Anjali Damania demanded an apology from the DCM, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) mocked him as “Defaulter Case Management (DCM).” Meanwhile, NCP spokesperson and MLC Amol Mitkari escalated the matter by writing to the UPSC, demanding verification of Anjali Krishna’s education and caste certificates.

The incident took place three days ago in Kurdu village of Madha taluka, where DySP Anjali Krishna had gone to investigate complaints of illegal excavation of murrum for road construction. At the site, she was confronted by a man identifying himself as Baba Jagtap, who then called Ajit Pawar and connected him with the officer via phone. The altercation was recorded and later went viral, prompting widespread media coverage and a response from Pawar’s party.

In the video, a person believed to be Mr. Pawar can be heard instructing the officer to stop her action. When Anjali Krishna asked who was speaking, the voice allegedly responded, “I am Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Don’t you recognise my voice? Give me your number, I’ll make a video call to you. You know my face, right? I’ll take action against you. You dare to show such audacity?”

The officer was subsequently connected via video call.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mr. Pawar, who is also the national president of the NCP, said, “My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur. 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.”

State revenue minister and BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule defended Mr. Pawar, saying the Deputy CM would never protect or reprimand officers taking action against illegal activities.

However, criticism poured in from opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (UBT) deputy leader Sushma Andhare took to X, stating, “This government claims CM means ‘Common Man’ and DCM means ‘Dedicated to Common Man’. But in reality, does DCM stand for ‘Defaulter Case Management’?”

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut also accused Mr. Pawar of backing illegal activities. “Pawar often says he won’t tolerate indiscipline. What is this then? Where is his discipline now?,” he said, further calling Mr. Pawar “the captain of all thieves in the state”.

Senior NCP leader Praful Patel attempted to downplay the controversy, asserting that Mr. Pawar’s comments were misinterpreted. He said, “I’ve known Ajit Pawar for decades as a leader who respects institutions and officers, especially women who serve with courage. His commitment to the rule of law and transparent governance is beyond doubt.”

Activist Anjali Damania also slammed Mr. Mitkari for targeting the officer. Calling the NCP MLA’s letter to UPSC a “nonsense”, Ms. Damania said, “Did Amol Mitkari write this letter on instructions from his boss or using his own brain? Why investigate Anjana Krishna for doing her job? The inquiry should be into Ajit Pawar and the companies linked to him and his family. If you even try to harass these IPS officers, I will drag you to court. These politicians aren’t even fit to polish the boots of IPS officers. Unfortunately, power lies in the hands of such people.”