4 minutes of readingPuneJanuary 29, 2026 03:06 pm IST
On June 11, 2021, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar arrived at the Pune City Police Headquarters in Shivajinagar to inaugurate a renovated building originally built in 1908 during the British era. But after a thorough inspection, Pawar became upset, pointing out “defects” in the construction, reprimanding the contractor and police officials, all in the presence of then police commissioner Amitabh Gupta.
A video of the incident went viral. Pointing out some defects in the construction in front of the police, Pawar can be heard saying: “Mazya bhashet sangayche tar hey chha-chhu kaam ahe (In my words, this is a bad job).”
While Pawar inaugurated the building, he said, “Gupta, if you call me to inspect that work, I will appreciate it if it is done well. If not, I will point out the flaws.”
Rebuking the contractor, Pawar, who was then part of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government, said if he was doing such bad work for the police, what would he do for other clients? He also criticized it publicly, showing him the construction defects. Gupta then assured Pawar that the defects would be rectified within 10 days.
This was just one incident that showed how Pawar, who died in a plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday, was known for taking a tough stance when inspecting work done by police and government officials.
‘In the duty of government, the rules must be followed’
Ajit Pawar often posed multiple questions to government officials concerned about his work. In another incident in February 2021, Pawar, who was speaking as the chief guest at a program organized by the Pune City police will return stolen valuables recovered from criminals to their rightful owners, warned police officials against using expensive cars provided by businessmen.
In his speech, Pawar said that a couple of days ago, when he was in Bombay For an official programme, some police officers arrived in vehicles that cost around Rs 35 lakh. Pawar said he learned that the vehicles were provided by businessmen for his convoy. “This is not right,” he said.
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Pawar said the matter was later discussed at the level of the prime minister and with the then additional chief secretary Sitaram Kunte. “Whether it is the prime minister, the deputy prime minister or the high court judge, there are rules on the use of vehicles for people holding government jobs…What everyone does in their personal life is their own business. But when performing government functions, rules must be followed. Using vehicles provided by businessmen during service is not right. People are watching us. We have to work in such a way that people believe in us,” Pawar said.
At that time, Pawar had also expressed concern over the procession taken out by gangster Gajanan Marne from Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai to Pune. However, during the recent Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) elections, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) fielded Jayshree Marne, wife of Gajanan, from Ward No. 10 (Bavdhan-Bhusari Colony) for the PMC elections. Jayshree lost.
The NCP also fielded gangster Bapu Nayar from Ward No 39 (Upper-Super Indira Nagar). He also lost the polls.
But, contesting from jail, NCP candidates Sonali Andekar and Lakshmi Andekar won the PMC elections from ward number 23. Sonali is the daughter-in-law of gangster Suryakant alias Bandu Andekar, while Lakshmi is his sister-in-law. The three are currently lodged in Yerwada jail in connection with the murder of 18-year-old Ayush Komkar, grandson of Bandu Andekar. Members of the Andekar family were also seen sharing the stage with Ajit Pawar at election campaign rallies in the city.
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