Tukaram Mundhe, FDA Commissioner, Maharashtra
In his two-month tenure in the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department, Tukaram Mundhe has created a storm through his drive against violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.Well-known establishments such as K Rustom Ice Cream Parlour and elite clubs, including the Cricket Club of India (CCI) in Mumbai, have not been spared. Their food licences were suspended after recent inspections revealed significant issues, including pest infestations, unhygienic storage conditions, and other violations.The man leading the mission is Mundhe, an IAS officer of the 2005 batch. Known for his no-nonsense attitude, uncompromising work style and campaign against illegalities, Mundhe is being dubbed ‘Singham’, an apparent reference to the Ajay Devgn movie of the same name, in which the protagonist takes on the mafia in Goa.Polarising figureBut Mundhe’s working style has also made him a polarising figure. Loved by citizens, he has had run-ins with politicians in his earlier assignments. As the civic chief of Nagpur during the Covid-19 pandemic, he faced allegations of corruption but was subsequently given a clean chit.Now, Mundhe, who has been transferred 25 times over two decades, has drawn the ire of his own staff. Twenty-nine officials from the FDA’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district office have complained about his functioning to state FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal. The employees have alleged that they are being made to work extended hours, increasing the workload on the existing workforce.While establishments like Parsi Dairy have resumed business after complying with norms, Poornima Restaurant in Fort has moved the court against FDA action. The Bombay High Court has also revoked the suspension of the licence of Navi Mumbai’s Park Inn by Radisson, as a re-inspection found 95 per cent compliance. The court also asked the FDA whether it was inspecting canteens located within its own premises and at the State government headquarters.“Food safety is not about status. It is about standards. Wherever serious violations are found, FDA Maharashtra will act decisively to protect public health,” Mundhe wrote in an X post on July 29.Unhygienic hotels are not the only establishments on the state FDA’s radar. The department has issued an order banning the sale of soft drinks and junk food within a 50-metre radius of all schools. The FDA has also cracked the whip on the sale of gutkha and food adulteration through seizure operations and the suspension of permits of milk suppliers.Published on July 30, 2026
