Big FDA Allegations : Is Food on Your Plate Really Safe?

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has raised serious allegations about the working of some officials in Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In a letter to FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, Raut welcomed the department’s recent action against food safety violations but also called for an independent investigation into alleged extortion.

Raut’s letter was dated September 27, 2026. He said Mundhe had taken strong action against food adulteration and violations at restaurants, hotels and other food businesses after becoming FDA commissioner. Recent reports have also highlighted the increased enforcement activity by the department.

However, Raut alleged that some Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers were using licence-related action to demand money from businesses. According to his letter, hotels, restaurants and quick-commerce companies were allegedly being threatened with licence suspension.

What did Sanjay Raut allege?

Raut claimed that business owners from places such as Nagpur, Pune, Solapur, Wardha and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar had approached him with complaints about so-called “closing notices”.

He alleged that the amount reportedly demanded for such a notice has increased sharply. According to the claims mentioned in his letter, the amount was around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 before Mundhe became commissioner. Raut claimed that it is now being demanded at levels between Rs 75,000 and Rs 2 lakh.

He further alleged that money was being demanded at FDA offices in Bandra and Thane. Raut also claimed that two Designated Officers in Thane collected around Rs 17 lakh to Rs 18 lakh from a quick-commerce company for restoring a suspended licence.

These claims are allegations made by Sanjay Raut and have not been independently established. They should not be treated as proven facts unless supported by an official investigation or other verified evidence.

While praising Mundhe’s enforcement drive, Raut has asked the FDA commissioner to investigate the alleged “closing notice rate card”. He suggested that an independent inquiry could establish whether officials were misusing their powers.

Mundhe has received attention for the FDA’s strict action against food safety violations. Raut had also recently publicly praised Mundhe and suggested that the officer could be given a wider administrative role.

The latest allegations have therefore added another issue to the discussion around the FDA’s enforcement campaign. The focus is now on whether the claims made in Raut’s letter will lead to an official investigation and what action, if any, will follow.