India, Sept. 5 -- Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, while reacting to the viral video showing him purportedly rebuking a woman IPS officer over a phone call, has said 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".

Pawar's clarification comes after the viral video lead to uproar on social media and a huge controversy.

"My attention has been drawn to certain videos circulating regarding my interaction with police officials in Solapur," he wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

The deputy chief minister added that he has the "highest respect for our police force and its officers, including the women officers who serve w...