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**Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Faces Backlash Over Alleged Interference in Illegal Mining Case**
**SOLAPUR, Maharashtra:** Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar is embroiled in controversy after a video went viral appearing to show him pressuring a female IPS officer to halt action against illegal *murrum* (soil) mining in Solapur district. The incident reportedly occurred in Kurdu village, Madha tehsil, where NCP workers allegedly contacted Pawar during a crackdown on illegal mining.
The video shows Pawar speaking to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anjana Krishna of Karmala, first by phone and then via video call. Pawar can be heard allegedly instructing her to stop the ongoing operation.
In the viral video, Pawar is reportedly speaking to DSP Krishna on an NCP worker’s phone. When the IPS officer failed to recognize his voice, Pawar allegedly initiated a video call and sternly told her to halt the action against the illegal excavation of *murrum*, a soil widely used in road construction.
“Give me your number, I’ll video call you. Don’t you recognize my voice?” Pawar is allegedly heard saying in the video.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing Pawar of misusing his power. AAP’s Maharashtra Vice President Vijay Kumbhar alleged that the officer was threatened and told to stop the action while she was acting against illegal activities.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has denied the allegations, with state president Sunil Tatkare stating that Pawar would never support illegal activities. Tatkare suggested that Pawar may have only asked the officer to temporarily halt the operation to pacify party workers, with no intention of stopping the action entirely.
*Murrum* soil is widely used in road construction, and illegal mining is a recurring problem in many districts of Maharashtra.
First Piper 