This article covers how Tukaram Mundhe’s food safety inspections are reshaping enforcement in Mumbai, the high-profile raids that have gone viral, and the public debate surrounding his strict approach.
Recently, videos of food safety raids and inspections have been going viral on social media, putting Mumbai’s restaurant hygiene under scrutiny. Maharashtra’s FDA has suspended licences of four Domino’s and one Pizza Hut outlet over hygiene violations, while inspections at other eateries reportedly found rodents, improper food storage and other safety lapses. As these raids gain attention online, they are turning routine enforcement into a wider conversation about food safety, accountability and what happens behind restaurant kitchen doors.
Tukaram Mundhe, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, has emerged as the face of Mumbai’s intensified food-safety crackdown. The 2005-batch IAS officer took charge of the FDA in May and has since overseen more than 3,000 raids and inspections, targeting everything from major restaurant chains and iconic eateries to food-delivery warehouses. His strict approach and the widespread circulation of raid footage on social media have turned the bureaucrat into an unlikely public figure, earning him both strong public support and criticism over allegations of overzealous enforcement.
Mundhe’s Food Safety Action has extended from major international chains to historic clubs and sporting establishments. Since taking charge as Maharashtra’s Food Safety Commissioner in May 2026, he has led more than 3,000 raids and inspections, resulting in several high-profile cases that led to licence suspensions.
The FDA suspended the licences of four Domino’s outlets and one Pizza Hut outlet after inspections found violations including grease residue, insect infestations and food products without proper expiry information. On one day, officials inspected more than 100 outlets and issued improvement notices to 95 establishments.
The FDA suspended the licence of the Colaba outlet after a re-inspection reportedly found live cockroach activity and rotting food, along with other hygiene violations.
The 98-year-old Radio Club had its food business licence suspended following an August 19 inspection. Officials reported live flies and dead cockroaches in the kitchen, alongside other sanitation and food-storage violations.
The FDA suspended the food business licence of the MCA’s Bandra-Kurla Complex facility on August 22 over alleged hygiene and food-safety violations, resulting in the closure of its restaurants and food-and-beverage services.
Mundhe’s approach has also extended to court premises. After a Mumbai judge questioned whether court canteens were being inspected, FDA teams conducted inspections within hours, with some canteens reportedly found operating without licences and subsequently shut.
The food safety drive has received strong public support, with many consumers praising Mundhe’s strict approach and the viral inspection videos for exposing hygiene problems that would otherwise remain out of public view. At the same time, his methods have faced criticism, with businesses and legal proceedings questioning whether some punitive actions have been disproportionate.
Bombay High Court has also raised concerns over the FDA’s approach, including a case in which the department was ordered to pay ₹5 lakh in compensation to a Pune sweet shop after its licence remained suspended despite a follow-up inspection showing 35 of 36 safety parameters had been met.
The debate therefore goes beyond one officer or a series of viral raids: while strict enforcement can push food businesses to improve hygiene and restore consumer confidence, it also needs to be consistent, transparent and proportionate. With more than 3,000 establishments inspected and 165 licences suspended between May 25 and July 31, Mundhe’s campaign has undoubtedly put food safety at the centre of public attention.
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