Maharashtra cadre IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe (2005 batch) has again come into the spotlight—this time for a sweeping food safety crackdown in Mumbai. Known for a strict, rule-based approach, Mundhe has reportedly faced frequent friction with successive administrations.
According to reports, he has been transferred 25 times over a 20-year career. The state government appointed him as Food Safety Commissioner, after which the Food and Drug Administration’s enforcement activity sharply intensified, with teams conducting raids from morning to night.
Officials inspected a wide range of establishments—big brands, small units and even entities linked to influential people. Businesses found violating norms, failing hygiene standards, operating with expired or unrenewed licences, or involved in adulteration were shut and sealed.
Mundhe has also faced threats, the report said, but has continued the drive. After a case alleged that raids were targeting only private establishments, a judge questioned the approach; the next day, raids were carried out at eateries inside the Mumbai High Court premises, where some were found operating without licences and were ordered to close until compliance.
In the last two months alone, the crackdown reportedly covered about 1,300 hotels and establishments. Authorities seized food items worth around ₹49 crore and confiscated and destroyed about 1.6 lakh litres of adulterated milk, as the campaign continues to draw public attention in Mumbai.
