A video of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar purportedly threatening a woman IPS officer has ignited a political controversy, leading an NCP legislator to demand an investigation into the officer's credentials. The video, which went viral, shows Pawar allegedly rebuking Anjali Krishna, a sub-divisional police officer from Solapur, for taking action against illegal soil excavation.

In the video, Pawar is purportedly heard ordering Krishna to halt the action and return to her office, allegedly stating that he, as the Deputy CM, was giving the order. He is also heard saying, "I will take action against you," after Krishna reportedly stated that she didn't recognize his voice, which agitated Pawar. According to reports, the incident occurred after Krishna and revenue officials acted on complaints of illegal 'murrum' (soil) mining in Solapur. When the police and other officials arrived, local NCP workers allegedly threatened them and then contacted Pawar.

The video sparked outrage, with opposition parties like Shiv Sena (UBT) demanding Pawar's resignation. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized Pawar's behavior, questioning his sense of discipline and accusing him of protecting "thieves" from his own party. Raut argued that illegal excavation of 'murrum' defrauds the state treasury, especially when Pawar is the finance minister.

In response to the controversy, Pawar issued a clarification, stating that his intention was not to interfere with law enforcement but to ensure the situation remained calm and did not escalate. He affirmed his respect for the police force and his commitment to tackling illegal activities, including sand mining, under the rule of law. Some members of his party defended his tone, attributing it to his straightforward nature. The NCP also clarified that Pawar did not intend to completely halt the action but asked the IPS officer to defer it due to law and order concerns.

However, the controversy took a new turn when NCP leader Amol Mitkari, a Member of the Legislative Council, called for a scrutiny of Krishna's submitted documents to the UPSC, raising doubts about their authenticity. Mitkari alleged that Krishna filmed the video and had her associates circulate it. He argued that if she did not recognize the Deputy Chief Minister, her recruitment process should be investigated. Mitkari has written to the UPSC seeking a probe.

Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) working president, criticized Mitkari's demand, calling it a "grave assault on the Constitution" and "character assassination" of the IPS officer. She stated that attacking the credentials of the IPS officer undermines the rule of law and violates constitutional guarantees of gender equality. Sule called for action to preserve the dignity of public office and the independence of civil services.

Interestingly, Ajit Pawar found support from an unexpected source: his nephew Rohit Pawar, an MLA from the rival NCP (SP). Rohit suggested that Ajit Pawar was trapped by his allies who sought to misrepresent the conversation. He added that Ajit Pawar is known for his bluntness and that the woman IPS officer was not at fault.