After Shiv Sena MLA Assaults Staffer Over Food, Maharashtra Canteen’s Licence Cancelled
A day after a video went viral showing Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulting a canteen staffer over the quality of food served, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cancelled the licence of the canteen operating at the Akashwani MLA Hostel. The incident has triggered sharp criticism of the MLA’s conduct and sparked debate over the use of violence by elected representatives.
The footage, which surfaced on Tuesday, shows Gaikwad slapping and punching the canteen staffer, Yogesh Kutran, after alleging he was served “rotten dal.” The altercation began when the MLA ordered a thali and reportedly felt nauseated after a few bites. In the video, Gaikwad confronts the staffer, forces him to smell the dal, and physically assaults him — knocking him to the ground.
“Who gave this to me? Smell this! Pack it and call the food department. If you’re serving this to an MLA, what are you giving the general public?” Gaikwad is heard saying. A bystander adds, “Someone could die from eating this.”
Following the incident, the FDA conducted a detailed inspection of the canteen run by Ajanta Caterers. Their report cited multiple hygiene violations: unclean kitchen floors, lack of separation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food preparation, use of damaged equipment, poor food storage practices, and workers handling food without gloves or uniforms. Alarmingly, dead flies were found in a butter container, and vegetables were stored directly on the floor.
Based on these findings, the FDA swiftly cancelled the canteen’s operating licence.
When approached by NDTV, Gaikwad insisted that the food wasn’t just stale, but “rotten,” saying he vomited after eating it and felt sick. Justifying his actions, he declared, “I am not a Gandhian, I’m a warrior. I used the language Balasaheb Thackeray taught us. I’m a judo, gymnastics, karate, and wrestling champion. I don’t regret anything.”
He added that he intends to raise the issue in the state Assembly.
The incident has stirred a political storm, with critics questioning the justification of violence even in the face of poor food quality.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
