Ajit Pawar faces fire for ‘threatening’ IPS officer, says intent was to defuse tension
Maharashtra Deputy CM’s heated exchange with woman IPS officer over illegal excavation in Solapur sparks outrage, with opposition demanding resignation while Pawar claims he aimed to maintain calm.
NewsArc Bureau
Mumbai, September 5, 2025 – Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has found himself at the center of a political storm after a video surfaced showing him allegedly threatening a woman Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Anjana Krishna, during a crackdown on illegal murrum excavation in Solapur’s Kurdu village. The incident, recorded on August 31, 2025, has triggered widespread outrage, with opposition leaders accusing Pawar of abusing his authority to shield party workers, while Pawar and his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) maintain he was merely trying to prevent escalation.
The controversy erupted when a two-minute video clip, widely circulated on social media, captured Pawar speaking to Krishna, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Karmala, over a phone handed to her by NCP worker Baba Jagtap. Krishna was leading an operation against unauthorized murrum excavation—a soil type used in road construction—following complaints from local villagers. In the video, Pawar is heard identifying himself as the Deputy Chief Minister and ordering Krishna to halt the action, saying, “Suno, mai deputy chief minister bol raha hu aur aapko aadesh deta hu ki vo rokwao (Listen, I am the deputy chief minister and I order you to stop this).” When Krishna, unable to verify his identity, requested he call her directly, Pawar reportedly escalated the exchange, stating, “Ek min, main tere upar action lunga (I will take action against you). Itna daring hua hai kya (How dare you)?” He then initiated a video call, reiterating his directive to stop the operation and instruct the tehsildar accordingly.
The video, which sparked a political firestorm, drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut accused Pawar of protecting “thieves” within his party and undermining the state’s treasury, given his role as Finance Minister. “You are threatening an IPS officer to protect the thieves of your own party. Illegal excavation of murrum means defrauding the state’s treasury. Yet you did it,” Raut said, demanding Pawar’s resignation. Sushama Andhare, another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, supported Krishna, arguing her request to verify Pawar’s identity was justified. Aam Aadmi Party’s Vijay Kumbhar called it a “misuse of power,” questioning why ministers seek pliable officers in key areas.
The opposition’s outrage was fueled further by the socio-political context. Illegal sand and soil mining has long plagued Maharashtra, with a 2023 state government report estimating annual revenue losses of ₹2,000 crore due to unauthorized excavations. Solapur, a hub for construction materials, has seen a surge in such activities, often linked to local political networks. The confrontation, lasting nearly three hours, reportedly halted the operation after Pawar’s intervention, though no official complaint has been lodged, and Krishna, along with other officials, cited an ongoing internal inquiry when pressed for comment.
Responding to the backlash, Pawar issued a clarification on X on September 5, stating, “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.” He emphasized his “highest respect” for the police, particularly women officers, and reaffirmed his commitment to transparent governance and tackling illegal activities like sand mining. NCP leaders rallied to his defense, with state president Sunil Tatkare claiming the video was “deliberately leaked” to misrepresent Pawar’s actions. Tatkare described Pawar’s tone as his “straight talk,” insisting he only sought to defer the action briefly to pacify party workers and address law-and-order concerns, not to stop it entirely. Union Minister Ramdas Athawale, an ally, called Pawar’s actions a “mistake” due to his unawareness of Krishna’s identity, noting that Pawar later acknowledged the error.
The NCP further pointed out that a First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Kurduwadi Police Station against 10-15 NCP workers, including Jagtap, for obstructing Krishna and other officials under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Environment Protection Act. This action, they argued, showed Pawar’s commitment to lawful processes despite the controversy.
The incident has reignited debates over political interference in law enforcement, with critics arguing it exemplifies how power is wielded to protect vested interests. Krishna, a Kerala-native recently posted to Maharashtra, has garnered public support for her defiance, with social media posts praising her as a symbol of bureaucratic courage. The episode also underscores tensions within Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP, as opposition parties leverage it to challenge the government’s integrity ahead of future elections.
