Maharashtra MLA canteen's license cancelled after Sena lawmaker assaulted staff over poor quality food
Mumbai/IBNS: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has cancelled the license of MLA canteen that allegedly served poor quality food to Shiv Sena (Shinde) lawmaker Sanjay Gaikwad, media reports said.
Gaikwad, who claimed he was served a stale dal, lost his temper and assaulted the staff who had prepared the food at the canteen which is located in Mumbai's Churchgate.
The Maharashtra FDA found raw vegetables were placed on floors, kitchen was not clean, no separate distinction between veg and non-veg food items, food chopping was done on floor with uneven, chipped wooden boards, dead flies in butter pot.
The report also stated several other violations of norms in the canteen's kitchen. No change room for the staff was available, the FA found.
Gaikwad losing his temper and assaulting the staff was entirely video recorded. The viral video shows Sanjay Gaikwad, who had ordered a thali, walked into the canteen in a towel and vest and started asking the staff who had made the daal.
The Buldhana MLA even asked the staff to smell the daal which the lawmaker claimed was rotten and also caused him discomfort after consumption.
At the MLA residence canteen Mumbai, PM Narendra Modi's most favourite and trustworthy MLA, Sanjay Gaikwad (SS Shinde), was seen assaulting a poor staffer over bad food. But since he's from a BJP ally, the media won't highlight it or call it hooliganism pic.twitter.com/JTYPvFYaRr
— Pritesh Shah (@priteshshah_) July 9, 2025
When he got hold of Yogesh Kutran, who prepared the dal, Gaikwad asked him to smell it and immediately slapped him thrice.
Then the MLA punched Yogesh so hard that he fell down on the floor. Other canteen staff had also agreed that the dal was poor.
When he was asked about his misconduct, Gaikwad told NDTV, "I am an MLA and a warrior too. When someone chose not to understand despite repeated attempts, I used the language Balasaheb Thackeray has taught us. I lost it.
"I am a champion in judo, gymnastics and karate and wrestling. I am not a Gandhian. I have no regrets. I don't think I have done anything wrong. I will raise this issue in the Assembly too."
"I am an MLA and a warrior too. When someone chose not to understand despite repeated attempts, I used the language Balasaheb Thackeray has taught us. I lost it. I am a champion in judo, gymnastics and karate and wrestling. I am not a Gandhian. I have no regrets. I don't think I have done anything wrong. I will raise this issue in the Assembly too."
