Maharashtra FDA suspends MLA hostel caterer's licence after 'stale food' claim by legislator
Mumbai, Jul 9 (PTI): The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Wednesday evening suspended the licence of the caterer which operates the canteen at the Akashwani MLA hostel in Mumbai, where a staffer was assaulted by a Shiv Sena legislator for allegedly serving stale food.
The FDA, in its suspension order, stated that the contractor (Ajanta Caterers) had violated provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as well as the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
The violations were found during an inspection conducted at the hostel earlier in the day, said the regulator.
The FDA's order directed Ajanta Caterers to cease food service operations at the hostel premises starting Thursday (July 10).
The action comes after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad slapped and punched an employee at the MLAs' hostel canteen for serving "stale food".
The MLA from Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led party said he had repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of food served in the canteen but no corrective action was taken.
"I had complained several times about the food served in the canteen but the situation remained unchanged," Gaikwad claimed.
After the incident on Tuesday night, the Buldhana MLA said the food served to him was of poor quality and he will raise the issue during the ongoing monsoon session of the #Maharashtra legislature.
— Deccan Herald (@DeccanHerald) July 9, 2025
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BJP files complaint over wall demolition, tree felling in Freedom Park for Rahul Gandhi’s event
Bengaluru: The BJP’s Bengaluru Central unit has filed a complaint at the Upparpete police station against the alleged demolition of a compound wall and the felling of a tree inside Freedom Park, reportedly to facilitate a protest by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress, which has alleged electoral malpractice in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, had initially planned to protest in Freedom Park in Bengaluru on August 5 and later deferred it to August 8 in light of the demise of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
“In preparation for the event, an ancient compound wall in the park was allegedly demolished, causing inconvenience to the public, damaging public property, and resulting in a loss to the government exchequer. Additionally, a tree within the park premises was cut down,” BJP Bengaluru Central President Saptagiri Gowda, who filed the petition, was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
The complaint further alleged that Congress undertook these activities without obtaining any permission from the concerned authorities.
It also accused the Congress of misusing government power for political purposes. “They have destroyed public property for their personal interests by constructing a huge new compound wall inside Freedom Park. This is an illegal act and a misuse of power by the ruling party,” the petition stated, as per TNIE.
The BJP leaders have demanded legal action against the organisers of the protest and the government officials allegedly involved.
The Upparpete police said that they have received the petition, adding that a preliminary inquiry is underway.
