Mumbai: Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has defended the department’s ongoing food safety crackdown, saying that suspending licences is a preventive and reformative step and not a way to shut down businesses.
Speaking exclusively to Times Now Managing Editor, Zakka Jacob on Times Now Amazing Indians Awards 2026, Mundhe said the FDA does not want to stop genuine businesses but wants food establishments to follow safety rules and regulations.
“It is not a punitive measure. It’s basically preventive measures. It’s a reformative measure. If it is punitive, I will cancel the license, not suspend it.”
Explaining the difference, Mundhe said a suspended licence can be restored once the establishment corrects the violations.
“So, you are suspending the license. What it means, you are halting the production, sale, manufacture of that till you abide or comply by the non-compliance which have been there. The moment you comply, you restore the license. You go as per the regulations and produce and do your business.”
He said cancellation of a licence would mean a permanent stoppage of the business, while suspension gives establishments an opportunity to correct their mistakes.
“So, that’s why it’s a reformative measure. The cancellation will ultimately lead to permanent stoppage of the business, of that FBO. It’s basically our job is not to stop the business. Our job is to promote genuine business.”
“Our job is to promote genuine business. And we are there for that. That’s why we say enabling genuine business is one of our key strategies,” Mundhe said.
Mundhe, also received the Special Recognition for Public Service at the Times Now Amazing Indians Awards 2026. He further said food safety rules cannot be compromised as they are linked directly to public health.
“It cannot compromise with the regulations and rules which are meant for safety of the people, health of the people.”
He said the demand for food products cannot be used as a reason to compromise on safety standards.
“There is a demand for food products, whether it’s hotel or restaurant or any other industry, there is a demand. You cannot supply something which is not safe, which is not standard, which is going to compromise the health of the people.”
Mundhe also described unsafe food as a “silent killer”, saying its effects may not always be immediately visible.
“And as I said, it’s a silent killer. We don’t realize that as of now. But over a period of time, we realize that we have been diagnosed with many, many of the diseases, particularly non-communicable diseases.”
Mundhe Responds To Extortion Allegations
Mundhe’s comments come amid a political row over the FDA’s crackdown in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have levelled allegations of extortion against the department, claiming that the alleged amount demanded from businesses has increased from Rs 10,000 earlier to Rs 2 lakh.
Mundhe denied the allegations and challenged those making the claims to provide evidence.
Responding to allegations that he is discouraging businesses and “killing” investment, Mundhe said the restoration of suspended licences shows that the FDA’s action is not aimed at shutting businesses.
“No. Two issues were there. Very clearly, if I wanted to kill a business, then why I did restore the license of those? They have been restored. They have been better off. They say that I can show you their videos.”
Mundhe said several business owners whose licences were suspended later thanked the department for forcing them to correct violations.
“You can call them yourself and ask them. Almost everybody in South Mumbai, all the licenses who suspended and came to me in appeal said, thanks for awakening us. This was a wake-up call for us.
We never realized that we have been doing wrong in this manner. This is by and large the response which I have got from the suspended license who have come to me.”
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