Mumbai — Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has stated that he has not been transferred, firmly rejecting speculation regarding his removal and confirming that the department's enforcement drive against unsafe food and substandard drugs will persist. The clarification was issued following reports that linked his ongoing role to a newly assigned responsibility as secretary of a committee established to investigate alleged paper leaks and irregularities concerning Maharashtra Public Service Commission examinations.
Taking to social media on a Monday night, Mundhe explicitly stated that he had not been moved from the FDA and affirmed his continued service as the agency's commissioner in Maharashtra. He emphasized that the administration's campaign against unsafe, adulterated, and substandard food, along with spurious pharmaceuticals, remains active and ongoing.
Rumors of a reassignment surfaced after the state government designated the senior Indian Administrative Service officer as secretary of a five-member panel tasked with looking into MPSC examination irregularities. Mundhe, who has experienced numerous transfers throughout his bureaucratic career, became the subject of widespread discussion immediately following the committee's announcement.
Mundhe's tenure leading the FDA has generated significant public interest due to the department's heightened enforcement regarding food safety violations. The agency has increased inspections, raids, and regulatory actions against eateries and food businesses accused of infractions, such as utilizing unsafe or adulterated ingredients. Additionally, the department has targeted establishments over licensing and compliance failures as part of a broader campaign to strictly enforce safety standards.
While consumers have largely praised the renewed emphasis on accountability and food safety, certain segments of the restaurant and food service industry have pushed back against the penalties and closures. Furthermore, several enforcement measures have faced legal challenges, bringing aspects of the regulatory agency's operations under judicial scrutiny and keeping Mundhe's tenure in the spotlight.
Mundhe's inclusion on the panel investigating MPSC paper leaks follows widespread protests regarding the administration of the recruitment body. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis previously indicated that the committee would thoroughly evaluate the tenure of current and past chairpersons and members associated with the state recruitment institution.