Meet the man who is on mission mode to enforce hygiene standards in eateries and restaurants.
Whether it's a five-star banquet hall, a school lunch supplier, a blood bank, or a Bollywood actors' surrogate advertisements, Tukaram Mundhe seems to have an opinion, a bye-law, and very possibly an inspection team on standby.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has directed officials to invoke the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against gangs involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of gutka and other banned tobacco products. This move aims to treat such activities as serious organised crimes affecting public health, rather than mere regulatory violations, due to the sophisticated nature of the illegal trade.
The Bombay High Court has directed the FDA to conduct a fresh inspection of the Mumbai Cricket Association's kitchens after serious food safety and hygiene violations were found, including insects. The court also humorously questioned if cricketers were aware they were consuming "non-vegetarian tea" due to the unhygienic conditions. The MCA has been asked to clean its premises before the inspection.
A woman Food Safety Officer was targeted by suspected gutkha mafia operatives during a raid in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The incident, where a vehicle attempted to run her over, has led the state government to order strict action against those responsible. FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal condemned the attack and assured full support to the officer, vowing no leniency for assailants of government officials.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licences of 14 food business establishments linked to online platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart after a state-wide inspection drive found safety and hygiene violations, officials said on Friday.
Maharashtra FDA seizes 5,929 kg of toxic methanol from a warehouse in Thane district, allegedly linked to spurious liquor that caused 14 deaths in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
The Bombay High Court questioned the Maharashtra FDA's "98 per cent clean" certificate for the Mantralaya canteen, ordering an immediate inspection by a team of lawyers. The court emphasised the need for the FDA to be fair and impartial in its drives, criticising potential targeting of private establishments while overlooking government ones.
The Uttarakhand Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that a Dehradun-based factory, allegedly involved in the production of the banned synthetic drug Captagon, is not registered in its official records. This follows reports of illegal Captagon production at the 'Green Herbal' factory in Sahaspur.
Maharashtra FDA has suspended the license of Mumbai's renowned 'Rustom' ice cream outlet due to serious food safety and hygiene violations, including live rats, houseflies, and expired food items.
Mundhe said the FDA was examining advertisements for products other than tobacco-related items and would act wherever misleading claims or other violations were found.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licence of Mumbai's renowned K Rustom ice cream parlour due to severe hygiene and food safety violations. An inspection revealed live rats and flies, expired flavouring agents, and ice cream with insufficient milk fat, leading to the parlour's closure under the 'Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra' campaign.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are not rushing to relocate manufacturing to the United States despite former President Donald Trump's renewed threat of tariffs up to 200 per cent on imported generic drugs. Instead, they are leveraging existing US plants, contract manufacturers, and making selective investments in complex products while maintaining India as their primary production hub.
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has issued a comprehensive order mandating free drinking water for customers in all food establishments, banning food served in newspapers, and introducing rigorous operational standards. These new regulations aim to improve food safety, hygiene, and transparency across hotels, restaurants, and other food service providers in the state.
Getting hold of a recipe requires a skill even James Bond cannot master.
The Gujarat government has imposed a state-wide ban on the production, transportation, and sale of unstandardised analogue paneer, cheese, and butter. Citing public health concerns and the need to protect consumers and the dairy sector, the decision follows detections of substandard artificial dairy products during inspections. Legal action will be taken against violators.
The Maharashtra FDA seized 5,929 kg of toxic methanol from a warehouse in Thane district, suspected to be the source of the chemical used in spurious liquor that caused 14 deaths in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Authorities in Mumbai are investigating the deaths of four family members after they consumed watermelon, with efforts underway to locate the source of the fruit.
Police in Thane have arrested a 26-year-old man and seized banned tobacco products worth over Rs 5 lakh after a raid in Ulhasnagar.
The Jharkhand government has cancelled 44 recruitment examinations conducted by the state Public Service Commission (JPSC) and an outsourced agency since 2014, including the JSSC Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination, following a 25-day student agitation over alleged irregularities. This decision has led to protests from around 2,000 candidates who had already been appointed to various state government departments after clearing the JSSC-CGL exam.
'Hospitals sometimes compel patients to purchase medicines only from pharmacies owned by or attached to the hospital, refuse to provide prescriptions, withhold prescriptions, or send prescriptions directly to the hospital pharmacy without patient consent.'
An initial report has ruled out bacterial infection in the deaths of four Mumbai family members who consumed watermelon. Further investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of death.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the state's 'BIMARU' (sick) status to corruption during previous governments, emphasising the need for transparency and meritocracy in recruitment processes. He highlighted improvements in medical facilities and increased government job opportunities for young people in Uttar Pradesh.
The remarkable rise of smallcaps reflects the emergence of a broad set of specialised businesses operating in industries where the sectoral tailwinds remain considerably stronger than macroeconomic headwinds, points out Debashis Basu.
Police and FSDA officials in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, seized approximately 16 quintals of fake paneer allegedly made using detergent powder and other harmful chemicals. A manufacturing unit was sealed, and three individuals were booked in connection with the case as part of a state-wide crackdown on spurious milk products.
United States Senator Jim Banks has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step up inspections of overseas pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, expressing concern over poor-quality drugs being imported from countries like India and China.
Following the deaths of 15-18 people in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad due to spurious liquor, the Maharashtra government has suspended 22 police and excise department personnel for failing to act against the illegal liquor trade. Financial assistance has been announced for the victims' families, and a statewide crackdown on illicit liquor is underway.
Mumbai police are investigating the circulation of an AI-doctored video featuring Maharashtra Minister Narhari Zirwal, following a complaint by a transperson alleging blackmail.
From leafy greens to popular fruits, testing has shown varying levels of pesticide residues, raising concerns about routine exposure. Simple steps like washing, soaking, peeling and careful handling can help reduce potential risks.
The Rajasthan government has suspended the state drug controller and halted the distribution of medicines manufactured by Kaysons Pharma following reports of children's deaths allegedly linked to contaminated cough syrup.
A sessions court in Mumbai has quashed notices issued against two directors of Amazon Seller Services Private Limited for the alleged illegal online sale of abortion pills, citing that Amazon acts as a platform and not the seller.
Haryana is strengthening its anti-narcotics framework with an integrated and technology-driven roadmap, focusing on increased enforcement, inter-state coordination, and financial disruption of drug networks.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported strong consolidated numbers for Q4 FY26, with net profit rising 26 per cent year-on-year to 2,714 crore, despite continued weakness in its US generics business. Growth in innovative medicines and increased R&D investments are helping to offset these pressures.
An Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe has revealed that the manufacturer of Coldrif syrup, linked to the deaths of at least 20 children in Madhya Pradesh, used industrial-grade raw materials without quality checks. The investigation also found that Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Department officials were in frequent contact with the company but failed to conduct mandated inspections.
The Maharashtra State Women's Commission is investigating a major illegal human egg extraction racket in Thane district, where vulnerable women were exploited for multiple donation cycles using forged documents. The investigation revealed unauthorized IVF clinic operations and unqualified individuals administering medical procedures.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the state's past 'BIMARU' (sick) status to corruption during previous governments, highlighting improvements in recruitment processes and medical facilities under his administration.
Senior NCP leader Narhari Zirwal says the public wants Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, to be brought into the Maharashtra state ministry.
Two guests, Akash and Gaurav Kumar, objected to the label and tried to record a video on Sunday night at the party, leading to a fracas.
The Madhya Pradesh government will cover the full cost of treatment for children suffering from kidney infections after consuming a contaminated cough syrup in Chhindwara and Betul districts. This decision follows the deaths of fourteen children in Chhindwara due to suspected renal failure linked to the 'toxic' Coldrif cough syrup.
