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FDA Chief Mundhe Responds to Raut's Extortion Claims: "Come Directly to Me, File a Complaint"
- •Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe urged individuals facing issues with FDA officials to approach him directly with complaints, following Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's allegations of extortion.
- •Raut alleged that FDA officers were threatening hotels, restaurants, and quick-commerce companies with license suspension to demand money, citing an increase in "closing notice" demands from Rs 10,000-12,000 to Rs 75,000-2 lakh.
- •Mundhe clarified that a legal appellate remedy exists for license-related actions and emphasized that complaints filed through his portal ensure anonymity, protecting complainants from identification by officers.
- •Raut also questioned the FDA's license suspension process, alleging that officials were bypassing proper procedures like inspection notices and hearings, which he deemed an abuse of power and extortion.
- •Raut demanded an independent investigation into the alleged "closing notice rate card," verification of customer complaints, disciplinary action against officials, and public disclosure of license suspension details.
Key Questions Answered
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that FDA designated and food safety officers were extorting hotels, restaurants, and quick-commerce companies by threatening licence suspensions. He claimed that closing notice demands had risen from Rs 10,000-12,000 before May 2026 to between Rs 75,000 and Rs 2 lakh, and cited an instance where two Thane officers allegedly collected Rs 17-18 lakh to restore a suspended licence.
FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe urged anyone facing problems with officials to approach him directly with a complaint. He highlighted that the legal framework provides an appellate mechanism and that individuals can use his portal, where whistleblower identities are strictly redacted and whitelisted to prevent blackmail.
Sanjay Raut demanded an independent probe into the alleged closing notice rate card, verification of customer complaints, and disciplinary action against officials who bypassed proper notice and hearing procedures. He also sought a separate investigation into the alleged Rs 17-18 lakh collection and requested public disclosure of the reasons and hearing summaries for all licence suspensions.
