Pune, 14 September 2025: On Sunday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who had been avoiding the media since the controversy over his alleged reprimand of IPS officer Anjana Krishna last week, appeared in Pune and faced numerous questions from journalists on the matter.
Accompanied by PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Pawar conducted a press conference, which was noted in political circles as unprecedented since he is usually accompanied by political leaders during media interactions.
He held the press conference following a public dialogue event organized by his party in Hadapsar, Pune. The NCP hosted a 'Jansamvad' event in Hadapsar on Sunday, attended by Ajit Pawar and officials from the PMC and district.
Criticizing the media, Ajit Pawar remarked, “Instead of showcasing my work, you focus on things that need not be highlighted.” When questioned about the Anjana Krishna controversy, Ajit Pawar repeatedly stated, “I have no comments to offer on the issue.”
When journalists persisted, Ajit Pawar said, “I have clarified my stance on the matter… I have also tweeted about it… Even the Chief Minister has stated that ‘Ajit Pawar has clarified his position on the issue’.
What Is the IPS Officer Row Involving Ajit Pawar?
In early September 2025, a video went viral showing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar reprimanding IPS officer Anjana Krishna during a police operation against illegal soil (murum) excavation in Solapur district.
In the video, Pawar is seen asking the officer to stop the action, questioning why she didn’t recognize his voice, and even warning of action against her. This triggered widespread criticism for alleged political interference in police work and the tone used toward a female officer.
Jansamvad Event
'The jansamvad campaign' in Hadapsar is a distinctive initiative that connects civic officials directly with citizens using modern technologies. The NCP stated that Deputy CM Ajit Pawar addressed around 4,000 public complaints through the Jansamvad campaign in Hadapsar, which used WhatsApp chatbots, digital kiosks, and missed call numbers to connect citizens with civic officials.
The tech-driven initiative enabled easy issue registration, with Pawar forwarding complaints to departments, ensuring follow-up, and coordinating solutions.