Mumbai, Maharashtra
Amid allegations of extortion against officials of Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe responded to the claims on Tuesday. He said that he had not received a single complaint regarding such allegations so far. However, he made it clear that if concrete evidence of corruption or irregularities is found against any official, action will be taken.
Mundhe called for concrete evidence to support the allegations made against FDA officials. He said that no official found guilty of wrongdoing would be protected and that appropriate action would be taken if evidence was established.
Sanjay Raut Had Alleged Extortion
On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused certain Maharashtra FDA officials of allegedly engaging in extortion. He claimed that officials were threatening hotel operators and businesses involved in the quick-commerce sector with cancellation of their licences.
Following these allegations, the FDA Commissioner’s response has drawn attention. Mundhe said that if there are complaints or allegations against any official, concrete evidence should be provided so that action can be taken in accordance with the law.
FDA Claims Transparency in Its Operations
Tukaram Mundhe described the FDA’s functioning as transparent and said that the department is strictly enforcing laws related to violations of food safety regulations.
He also said that he had written to the Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) regarding the matter.
According to the FDA Commissioner, action is being taken in accordance with the law in cases involving violations of food safety and related regulations. Taking the corruption allegations seriously, he said that there would be no hesitation in taking action if concrete evidence emerges against any official.
Assurance of Action if Evidence Is Found
Mundhe said that evidence is crucial for investigating corruption allegations and taking appropriate action. He reiterated that if concrete evidence is found against any official and the allegations are established, strict action will be taken.
The matter has therefore seen allegations from Sanjay Raut against certain FDA officials, while FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has called for concrete evidence to substantiate the claims. For now, Mundhe has said that no complaint has been received in connection with the allegations and assured that action will be taken against any officials found guilty of wrongdoing.
