Hours after Sanjay Gaikwad, a leader of the Shiv Sena party and Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), allegedly assaulted a staff member at the MLAs’ Hostel canteen in Mumbai, claiming he was served spoiled food, the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a suspension notice to Ajanta Caterer, the canteen’s operator, on Wednesday evening.
The FDA’s order stated, “The license granted to your establishment from June 26, 2024, to September 27, 2027, is being suspended with immediate effect. During the suspension period, you or anyone on your behalf are prohibited from buying, selling, or distributing food items. If found doing so, legal action will be taken against you for violating the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.”
A video purportedly showing the assault by Gaikwad circulated on social media, prompting opposition leaders to demand his suspension in the Legislative Council. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis criticized Gaikwad’s behavior, saying it tarnished the image of the Legislature. He urged the Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman to decide on appropriate action. Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister and Gaikwad’s party leader, mentioned that he had reprimanded the MLA for his actions.
The incident escalated when Gaikwad confronted canteen staff over what he claimed was sour “dal” and spoiled rice. The video shows him repeatedly hitting a staff member and instructing others not to settle their bills, with his supporters also appearing to assault the workers.
While no police complaint was registered by evening, the FDA quickly conducted an inspection at the canteen, collecting food samples for testing. An FDA official reported that samples, including paneer and sauces, were sent for laboratory analysis, with results expected in 14 days.
Following the inspection, the FDA suspended the license of Ajanta Caterer, the contractor managing the canteen under the Legislature Secretariat.
In a press briefing, Gaikwad alleged he had been served stale food earlier and noted that his previous complaints had gone unaddressed. “If such food is being served to an MLA, imagine what the common man must be getting,” he expressed, representing the Buldhana Assembly constituency. Gaikwad asserted, “I have no regrets over my actions. As a public representative, I may need to use such measures when democratic language fails. I will continue to raise this issue.”
He vowed to address the matter in the ongoing legislative session, underscoring that the quality of food in a government canteen must meet standards, as it serves workers and officials from across the state.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-mla-hostel-canteen-licence-suspended-after-sena-mla-assaults-staff-over-stale-food-10116848/
Category: Cities,Mumbai
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-07-10 00:15:00
