Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, has launched one of the most aggressive food-safety crackdowns the state has seen in years, earning him comparisons to a real-life “Singham” for his no-nonsense approach against unhygienic and unlicensed food establishments.
The Scale of the Crackdown
Since taking charge, Mundhe has led raids across Mumbai and the wider state, targeting everything from elite clubs and star hotels to roadside dhabas and institutional canteens. Between May 25 and July 31 alone, the FDA inspected a staggering 3,137 food establishments, issued 764 improvement notices, and suspended 165 licences after seizing or destroying unsafe food products worth ₹55.72 crore. In a separate three-day drive between August 4 and 6, FDA teams conducted 31 raids and inspected 63 hotels, restaurants, bars and dhabas across Maharashtra, including canteens at IIT Bombay.
Elite Clubs Under the Scanner
What has really caught public attention is that the crackdown hasn’t spared Mumbai’s most prestigious institutions. Five elite clubs — Cricket Club of India (CCI), Willingdon Sports Club, MIG Cricket Club, RK Juhu Gymkhana, and Aparna Juhu Gymkhana — were among the high-profile targets, alongside several nightlife venues across the city.
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Popular Eateries Sealed
Several well-known and branded eateries have also faced action for alleged FDA violations, including Eat Nino in Dadar, Jai Maa Kali Dhaba in Andheri, and House of Maharashtra in Santacruz, among others. Two canteens at IIT Bombay were also shut down as part of the action.
Bombay High Court Steps In
The crackdown hasn’t gone without controversy. A Bombay High Court bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed displeasure over what it called “selective” raids, questioning whether the FDA’s hygiene crackdown was being applied uniformly to both private and government establishments. The court directed the FDA to also inspect government and semi-government canteens — including those at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, and the High Court itself — and submit inspection reports along with video evidence.
Bollywood Could Be Next
The crackdown’s reach may soon extend to India’s entertainment industry. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), representing over five lakh technicians, workers, and artists across 38 affiliated crafts, has formally written to Commissioner Mundhe requesting surprise inspections, hygiene audits, and food sampling at film, television, and digital production shooting locations across Mumbai. The letter raised specific concerns about the quality of food served to ground-level crew members on set — suggesting that Mumbai’s massive film industry could be the next major test of the FDA’s “zero tolerance” stance.
The Bigger Picture
From five-star hotels to humble dhabas, elite clubs to IIT canteens, Tukaram Mundhe’s FDA drive has sent a clear message: no establishment, however big or small, is beyond scrutiny. As the crackdown widens and the courts push for greater accountability across both private and government sectors, Mumbai’s food and hospitality industry finds itself under more pressure than it has in years — with Bollywood’s shooting floors potentially next in line.