The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has suspended the food service licence of Ajanta Caterers, which operates the canteen at the Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, following a shocking incident involving Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad. The suspension came hours after a video went viral showing Gaikwad allegedly slapping and punching a canteen staff member, accusing him of serving stale and foul-smelling food.
The incident has sparked a political and public uproar. According to reports, the Buldhana legislator had ordered food in his room on Wednesday night and found the dal and rice to be inedible. Furious, he marched to the canteen, refused to pay the bill, berated the staff, and physically assaulted a billing employee in front of others. The footage of the confrontation spread rapidly across social media platforms, drawing widespread condemnation from various quarters.
In response, FDA officials conducted an immediate inspection of the canteen. Their initial findings cited multiple violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the related licensing regulations of 2011. Samples of paneer, dal, oil, and Schezwan chutney were collected and sent for laboratory testing. The FDA, stating serious procedural lapses, ordered Ajanta Caterers to suspend all food services at the MLA hostel effective from July 10.
Despite the backlash, MLA Gaikwad remained defiant. Speaking to the media, he claimed he had repeatedly raised concerns about food quality at the hostel but was ignored. Refusing to apologise, he said he had “no regrets” and described the food as "poisonous," asserting that he acted out of frustration and concern for his own safety.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reacted strongly to the incident, calling the MLA’s actions inappropriate and damaging to the dignity of the state legislature. He stressed that such behaviour undermines public trust and sets a poor example of governance. Fadnavis also urged the Legislative Council Chairman, Ram Shinde, to review the conditions of MLA accommodations and take corrective action where needed.
