Audio out, Pawar threatens woman IPS officer

MAHARASHTRA Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has landed in major trouble after a video went viral allegedly showing him threatening a woman IPS officer while intervening in a case related to illegal sand quarrying in Solapur district.

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI @ Mumbai

Opposition leaders and social activists have questioned Pawar's objectionable conduct and demanded his resignation.

The video of a conversation between Pawar and IPS officer Anjana Krishna V S from the 2022-23 batch has been widely circulated since Thursday evening.

In the video, Krishna is seen speaking over the phone with Pawar.

Anjana Krishna hails from Kerala and has received her first probationary posting as Sub-Divisional Police Officer in Solapur district.

In his response to the charge of rebuking the officer, Pawar asserted that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to "ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm and did not escalate further".