India, Sept. 5 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has landed in a controversy after a video of him "threatening" a woman police officer who was cracking down on illegal excavation in Solapur has gone viral.

In his defence, Pawar said he was only trying to prevent an escalation in the situation on the ground and had no intention of "interfering" with law enforcement.

Krishna is originally from Kerala and was posted to Maharashtra recently.

She was handed a phone by an NCP worker and told Pawar was on the line. The officer did not recognise Pawar's voice and asked him to call her on her cellphone.

"Mai tere upar action lunga (I will act against you)," Pawar was heard telling Krishna, "Tujhe mujhe dekhna hai na? Tera number ...