Pune: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar has landed in a fresh controversy after a video purportedly featuring him surfaced in which he allegedly threatened to cut off water supply to a village if people there did not vote for his cousin Supriya Sule, daughter of NCP chief Sharad Pawar.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate for Baramati and former IPS officer Suresh Khopade has alleged in his complaint to Vadgaon police station yesterday that Pawar issued the threat of cutting off water supply during an election speech at village Masalwadi on April 16, a purported video of which was aired on national television.
"If anybody from this village indulges in any trouble (failing to vote for Sule), I will cut off the water supply," he said in the dim and grainy TV footage after a villager reportedly insisted that he should announce a date to fix the water supply problem.
He also asked policemen to remove the villager even as somebody was heard desperately pleading "Sorry, Dada! Sorry, Dada". Ajit is fondly addressed as 'Ajit Dada' by his supporters.
Sule is seeking a second term from her father's pocket borough Baramati.
Assistant Police Inspector Vilas Bhosale told PTI that police had received Khopade's complaint but no case has so far been registered against the Deputy CM.
He said police and Election Commission officials would check the authenticity of the "poor quality" video before taking appropriate action.
"Due process will be followed after preliminary investigations into the complaint," he said.
