Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Fadnavis Backs FDA Crackdown Despite Court Scrutiny Over Food Safety
Maharashtra’s food safety agency is checking restaurants and other food businesses.
Its commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, has led raids and licence suspensions.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said these checks should continue because unsafe food can harm people.
However, the Bombay High Court questioned some of the agency’s actions.
The court ordered the agency to pay Rs 5 lakh to a sweets shop in Pune.
The shop had stayed closed even though a report said it met 98 per cent of hygiene standards.
The FDA also sent notices to three Bollywood actors about their advertisements for Vimal Elaichi.
The government supports strict food safety enforcement, while the court has raised concerns about how it is carried out.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the FDA’s strict campaign against food adulteration.
The Bombay High Court ordered the Maharashtra FDA to pay Rs 5 lakh to a Pune sweets retailer.
The retailer’s business remained suspended despite a report showing 98 per cent hygiene compliance.
The FDA, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has raided and suspended licences of food establishments across Maharashtra.
The FDA also issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over Vimal Elaichi endorsements.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration, and a Pune-based sweets retailer.
- What
- Fadnavis backed the FDA’s continuing crackdown on food adulteration despite a Bombay High Court compensation order and criticism of some enforcement methods.
- When
- Fadnavis made the remarks on Tuesday, one day after the Bombay High Court issued its order.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including Pune and other locations across the state.
- Why
- Fadnavis said food adulteration and breaches of food safety standards threaten public health and cannot be tolerated.
Government and FDA Position
Court and Affected Business Concerns
Need for strict enforcement
Government and FDA Position
Devendra Fadnavis said action against food adulteration is necessary because unsafe food threatens people’s lives and health.
Court and Affected Business Concerns
The Bombay High Court’s intervention shows concern that enforcement must not unfairly harm businesses or rely on excessively harsh measures.
Suspension of the Pune retailer
Government and FDA Position
The FDA continued its enforcement action against the sweets retailer as part of its food-safety campaign.
Court and Affected Business Concerns
The court ordered Rs 5 lakh in compensation after the retailer remained suspended despite a report showing 98 per cent hygiene compliance.
FDA enforcement methods
Government and FDA Position
The FDA says its raids, licence suspensions and notices are part of the Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra campaign.
Court and Affected Business Concerns
The Bombay High Court has criticised the regulator’s approach on several occasions and described some measures as “strange policies.”
- Compensation ordered
- Rs 5 lakh to a Pune-based sweets retailer
- Hygiene compliance cited
- 98 per cent
- FDA commissioner
- Tukaram Mundhe
- Campaign
- Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra
- Show-cause notices
- Issued to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over Vimal Elaichi endorsements
- Government position
- Strict action against food adulteration will continue
- Court scrutiny
- The Bombay High Court has criticised some FDA actions and referred to certain measures as excessively harsh or “strange policies”