It’s hard to ignore these images.
The kitchen floor is littered with broken shards. Spiderwebs cling to the walls. Vegetables have rotted in the corners, yet cautionary signs about insect contamination are posted on the counter.
One might assume this scene is from a rundown restaurant. But these images are from a prestigious club in Mumbai, India’s financial capital and the capital of Maharashtra state.
These pictures and videos are among dozens that went viral last May, following an inspection campaign launched by Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) targeting restaurants, cafes, and other food businesses across the state.
At the center of the crackdown is 51-year-old government official Tukaram Mundhe, the newly appointed Food Safety Commissioner of Maharashtra.
Discussion and Controversy Are Not New
Since taking office last May, Mundhe has led thousands of inspections.
He firmly believes that food safety laws must be enforced regardless of a business’s size, influence, or reputation.
Under his direction, numerous quick commerce warehouses have had their licenses suspended, and he has even corresponded with Bollywood stars to discourage advertising of prohibited products.
“These actions are taken with public health in mind. We will continue to take action against violators,” he said.
However, gaining attention and controversy is nothing new for him.
Image source, Food and Drug Administration, Maharashtra
No Accounting for Transfers
Mundhe, a seasoned officer with over two decades of experience in India’s administrative services, has been frequently transferred in his career.
He admits to not keeping track of how many times he has been moved. “I stopped counting my transfers,” he says.
Supporters attribute the frequent transfers to his uncompromising style, while critics claim his strict approach has caused friction with colleagues and elected officials.
In the past decade, he earned praise as Nagpur Municipal Commissioner for his management of the Covid-19 pandemic and his efforts in drought-prone areas of Maharashtra to conserve water.
“When he was transferred from Nagpur during the Covid pandemic, thousands gathered outside their homes to bid him farewell. It took him nearly an hour to get to his car,” said Marathi journalist Shafi Pathan.
However, it is his strict stance on food safety that has made him even more well-known.
India faces serious challenges in food safety. A report published last July highlights the widespread nature of the problem.
Between 2025 and 2026, of 223,808 samples tested, one in every five samples was found “non-compliant,” meaning the food samples were unsafe, defective, or mislabeled.
Aggressive Measures
In this context, Mundhe has adopted an unusually aggressive approach. By the end of July, his department had conducted 3,100 inspections across Maharashtra, increasing to 4,000 since then.
Nearly 300 licenses have been suspended and over 1,000 notices issued for corrective actions.
According to Mundhe, more than 16,000 complaints have been registered on his department’s portal within three months.
Former Food Quality Regulator Pawan Agrawal said, “Purity issues have always been a problem here. Mundhe brought them into the public eye.”
Consumers have responded positively to this transparency. Agrawal notes that this is an effective departure from India’s traditional system.
This campaign has made Mundhe a social media sensation, with 3.8 million followers on Instagram.
Criticism
While consumers appreciate the pace and transparency of his work, some sectors of the food industry express dissatisfaction.
They accuse him of disregarding legal procedures, and some courts have described certain of his actions as “coercive.”
Under Indian food safety law, businesses are generally given time to rectify issues when licenses are suspended or revoked.
However, regulators can take immediate action during public health emergencies.
Responding to criticism, Mundhe asserts that raids are conducted according to the law and only in serious cases.
Image source, Getty Images
Impact Reaching the Streets
Some of his actions have been overturned by courts. In some cases, courts have canceled suspension orders and ordered compensation for business owners.
Last August, the Bombay High Court ordered the Food Safety Department to pay ₹500,000 in compensation to a sweet shop.
While appreciating the regulators’ intent, the court commented that the actions were “a bit excessive.”
The inspection revealed the shop complied with 98% of the rules.
Judges also questioned whether the regulatory body applied the same level of scrutiny to government operations as it does to private businesses.
Mundhe defends the work of the regulatory body, stating, “If businesses complied with the law, I wouldn’t need to take these measures.”
He has banned the practice of selling food wrapped in newspapers and the use of synthetic colors.
His actions have also affected the street food business.
Yuvraj Yadav, who sells sandwiches in a suburb of Mumbai, no longer uses newspaper to wrap food.
“I stopped using newspapers for wrapping because it’s banned. It’s harmful to health,” he said.
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