Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Maharashtra FDA Warns Against Fake Agents Demanding Licence Money
There is a department in Maharashtra called the FDA that makes sure food and medicines are safe.
Some dishonest people were pretending to work for the FDA.
They told people they could get licences faster if they paid money.
The head of the FDA, Mr. Mundhe, said these people are not real agents.
He said the FDA never appointed any agents or middlemen.
Getting a licence must be done online through official websites.
If anyone asks for money, citizens should report it to the FDA.
The FDA promised to keep the identity of the person reporting secret.
The FDA is also checking restaurants and food shops more strictly.
It has stopped some businesses from operating because they broke food safety rules.
Maharashtra FDA issued a public advisory warning citizens against fraudulent agents demanding money to secure food and drug licences.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe clarified the department has not appointed any agent, intermediary or private organisation for licence processing.
Licence applications must be submitted through official online portals: fdamfg.maharashtra.gov.in for drug licences and foscos.fssai.gov.in for food business licences.
The FDA has intensified inspections and suspended or cancelled licences of restaurants, cloud kitchens and food businesses for safety violations in recent weeks.
Applicants are urged to file complaints with the FDA Commissionerate if anyone demands money using an FDA official's name, with complainants' identities kept confidential.
- Who
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, fraudulent agents, and licence applicants
- What
- Public advisory warning against fraudulent agents demanding money for food and drug licences while misusing FDA officials' names
- When
- Advisory issued on Thursday; licence suspensions of food businesses occurred in recent weeks
- Where
- Maharashtra, India (announced from Mumbai)
- Why
- To protect applicants from fraud and direct them to the official online licensing system
- Issuing authority
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- FDA Commissioner
- Tukaram Mundhe
- Drug licence portal
- fdamfg.maharashtra.gov.in
- Food licence portal
- foscos.fssai.gov.in
- Core advisory
- No agents or intermediaries appointed; licensing is fully online
- Enforcement action
- Suspension/cancellation of licences of restaurants, cloud kitchens and food businesses
- Reporting fraud
- Complaint to FDA Commissionerate; complainant identity kept confidential