Even Cricket Club of India (CCI) not spared; Mundhe effect in Maharashtra

THANE: Restaurant staff in Maharashtra are nowadays engaged in nonstop scrubbing and scouring the workplace in fear of just one name — Tukaram Mundhe. The commissioner of Maharashtra's food and drug administration (FDA) has already raided and shut down major restaurant chains, while other hoteliers have temporarily closed their establishments for cleaning before Mundhe arrives.

Instagram is also rife with reels from Mumbai restaurants showing staff dumping adulterated food and milk in fear of raids. The ‘Mundhe effect’ is now talked about in Maharashtra as well as on social media. Mundhe is an overnight superstar for doing something deemed unachievable during all these years.

Rather interesting was his approach when the court asked Mundhe not just to crack down on elite restaurants and private eatery chains. The FDA under Mundhe immediately acted in compliance with the court suggestion and walked straight to the canteen functioning in the High Court premises.

While there are fans for his Singham-style work ethic, the administration and the powerful owners of restaurant chains are triggered. The raid, public shaming and shutting down businesses have not bode well with the entire sector.

The peak example was the FDA raid at Mumbai's 93-year-old Cricket Club of India (CCI), the getaway spot of elites and opulents of the cosmopolitan city. Insect infestations, expired food items and poor work hygiene were caught in the raid, and the kitchen was forced to shut down until all deficiencies were rectified.

Mundhe, over the 21 years in service, has cracked down on illegal sand mining, transport contract cartels, hospitals charging high during the pandemic and many others. In his career, Mundhe has been transferred 25 times. Many fear a 26th transfer is around the corner for him, considering the instant reforms the IAS officer has brought to FDA, only at the cost of rattling many elites.