The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Wednesday suspended the licence of Ajanta Caterers, which operates the canteen at Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, following serious violations of food safety norms and a violent altercation involving Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad.
The decision came after the FDA found violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, during an inspection conducted earlier in the day. Ajanta Caterers has been instructed to seize food service operations at the hostel starting Thursday, according to media.
The suspension follows a disturbing incident that has gone viral, in which Sanjay Gaikwad, a legislator from Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction, was seen slapping and punching a canteen staffer at the billing counter. The MLA also reportedly refused to pay the bill after alleging that the food served was stale.
“I had complained several times about the food served in the canteen but the situation remained unchanged,” Gaikwad said.
The MLA explained that he had ordered dal, roti, and rice on Tuesday night and felt nauseated after the first bite.
“I mixed the dal and rice, but the very first morsel tasted odd. I took another and that made me vomit,” he said.
Gaikwad has shown no remorse for his actions, defending his behavior publicly.
“I have no regrets,” he stated. “If someone does not understand Hindi, or Marathi, or English, then this is how we do it.”
Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized the MLA’s conduct:
“Such conduct does not behove anyone. It impacts the image of the state legislature, and as an MLA,” Fadnavis said.
“A wrong message goes among people about all MLAs that there is misuse of power.”
He also urged Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde to address broader issues surrounding the MLAs’ accommodations and food services, and to take necessary action.
Meanwhile, the Akashwani canteen, located near Mantralaya, remains under regulatory scrutiny, with Ajanta Caterers’ operations suspended pending further review.