Sanjay Raut Accuses Maharashtra FDA of Extortion

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut sent a three-page letter to Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe alleging that FDA officials are threatening hotels, restaurants and quick-commerce firms with licence suspension in order to extract money. Raut claims that Designated Officers (DOs), Assistant Commissioners (ACs) and Food Safety Officers (FSOs) are “open-ly threatening” businesses and demanding “closing notices” for cash. He cites complaints from operators in Nagpur, Pune, Solapur, Wardha, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai and Thane that the practice has become widespread.

'Openly threatening hotels...': Sanjay Raut alleges extortion by Maharashtra FDA officials, seeks independent probe Rs 10,000 then, Rs 2 lakh now: Sanjay Raut claims extortion by Tukaram Mundhe's FDA Hindustan TimesCNN-News18

Mundhe, an IAS officer, assumed charge of the Maharashtra FDA in May 2026. Since then the department has intensified inspections, suspending more than 850 food licences across the state, according to figures released by the agency. The crackdown has targeted adulterated foods such as analogue paneer, unsafe milk, unhygienic kitchen conditions and expired stock, actions that Raut publicly praised while simultaneously raising the extortion allegation.

FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe Responds To Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s Extortion Allegations, Seeks Specific Complaints For Probe

• Closing-notice fees before Mundhe: INR10,000 – INR12,000 (as reported by Raut).

CNBC TV18

• Closing-notice fees after Mundhe: INR75,000 – INR2 lakh (Raut’s allegation).

CNBC TV18

• Specific demand in Thane: INR17 – INR18 lakh collected from a quick-commerce company to restore a suspended licence (Raut’s claim).

‘Closing notice for INR2 lakh? ’ Sanjay Raut alleges extortion from Maharashtra FDA officials

• Licences suspended since May 2026: over 850 (FDA data).

Hindustan Times

Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has denied receiving any letter from Raut and described the accusations as “generic” and lacking specific details. He told media outlets that he learned of the allegations only through press reports and urged anyone with evidence to submit it either to him directly or to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Mundhe emphasized that the FDA’s complaint portal masks complainant identities and promised confidentiality for any whistle-blower. He stated that action will be taken only after concrete proof is provided.

Tukaram Mundhe responds to Sanjay Raut's extortion charges, says 'I need evidence'

• Letter receipt: Some reports (e.g., Moneycontrol, Indian Express) state that Raut wrote to Mundhe, while other outlets (Moneycontrol, CNBC-TV18) quote Mundhe as saying he never received the letter.

Tukaram Mundhe responds to Sanjay Raut's extortion charges, says 'I need evidence'

• Evidence of extortion: Raut’s allegations rely on anecdotal complaints from business owners; no independent verification of the alleged payments or of the authenticity of customer complaints that trigger raids has been presented.

'Rs 10,000 then, Rs 2 Lakh now': Sanjay Raut alleges extortion by FDA officials in letter to Tukaram Mundhe, seeks probe

• Scope of investigations: Raut calls for an independent probe into “closing-notice rate cards” and disciplinary action, but the FDA has not announced any formal inquiry pending receipt of specific complaints.

'Rs 10,000 then, Rs 2 Lakh now': Sanjay Raut alleges extortion by FDA officials in letter to Tukaram Mundhe, seeks probe

• “Before Mundhe became FDA commissioner, the rate card of closing notices was Rs 10-12k, after Mundhe created panic, the rate card has gone up to Rs75K to Rs2 lakh,” — Sanjay Raut, the IAS official

'Rs 10,000 then, Rs 2 Lakh now': Sanjay Raut alleges extortion by FDA officials in letter to Tukaram Mundhe, seeks probe