Mumbai: A day after a video showed him rebuking and asking a woman IPS officer to stop action against illegal soil excavation, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar Friday said he did not want to interfere but was only trying to de-escalate a tense situation.
As the NCP chief came under fire over the incident, police registered a case against several persons for allegedly obstructing IPS officer Anjali Krishna and other officials as they were taking action against illegal `murum’ soil excavation in Solapur district.
In the viral video, which surfaced Thursday, Pawar was heard admonishing Krishna over the phone.
“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,” Pawar said in a statement Friday.
He values the rule of law and has the highest respect for the police force and its officers, including women officers who serve with distinction and courage, he said.
“I remain firmly committed to transparent governance and ensuring that every illegal activity, including sand mining, is dealt with strictly as per the law,” Pawar further said.
The video, aired by Marathi news channels, showed Anjana Krishna, sub-divisional police officer, Karmala, talking to Pawar on a local NCP worker’s phone. She did not recognise his voice at first.
Pawar then made a video call to the police officer and purportedly asked her in a stern tone to stop the action against the illegal excavation.
Murum soil is used in road construction.
Meanwhile, a First Information Report was registered against Baba Jagtap, Nitin Mali, Santosh Kapre, Anna Dhane and 15 to 20 others under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 132 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 189 (2) (Unlawful Assembly), and relevant sections of Protection of Environment Act, said an official of Kurduwadi police station.
The incident had taken place August 31 when revenue department officials, along with IPS officer Anjali Krishna, reached Kapre Wasti to take action against illegal excavation, said the official.
The accused allegedly tried to obstruct the action, he added.
PTI
