Wire Centre | Mumbai
22,100 Kg of Suspect Milk Powder Found in Bhiwandi Godown.
In one of the biggest hauls of the crackdown, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) raided a warehouse operated by M/s Sai Cargo Movers in Purna village, Bhiwandi, Thane district. Inspectors recovered a staggering 22,100 kg of Spray Dried Skimmed Milk Powder, valued at approximately ₹1.00 crore. The stock was suspected to be misbranded and sub-standard, and has been seized pending laboratory analysis. Officials say the action is part of a continuous statewide drive against adulteration in milk and dairy products.
Three Bhendi Bazaar Hotels Lose Licences Over Filthy Kitchens.
A follow-up inspection drive hit three well-known food establishments in South Mumbai hard. Shalimar Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. had its licence suspended after a re-inspection found 25 serious violations still unresolved since an April notice — including wet, slippery kitchen floors, no record of raw material sourcing, and no separation between vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. At Noor Mohammadi Hotel, inspectors found thick layers of black oil grime on kitchen floors and open windows near the kebab section letting in flies, insects and crows. Rahmania Restaurant in Umarkhadi was shut down the same day over corroded equipment, peeling wall paint, and a complete absence of water quality testing records. A fourth outlet, Amravati Darbar in Amravati, was ordered to halt operations immediately for running without a valid food licence.
₹55 Lakh Banned Pan Masala Truck Seized in Amravati.
The Amravati division FDA intercepted a truck in Tivsa carrying banned pan masala and scented tobacco worth ₹55 lakh, including the vehicle itself. Two men were found in possession of Bajirao Gold pan masala and Mastani scented tobacco. A case has been registered at Tivsa police station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and investigators are probing whether the state’s organised crime law, MCOCA, could apply.
Raids Sweep Virar, Mira Road and Raigad; MCOCA Angle Under Scanner.
Further action in Virar (East) led to seizure of banned food items worth nearly ₹1.96 lakh, while a similar raid in Mira Road netted goods worth ₹2,857. In Raigad, a joint operation with Navi Mumbai crime branch recovered banned food stock worth close to ₹9.90 lakh. Notably, following orders from the Food Safety Commissioner dated June 12, 2026, police have been directed to examine whether MCOCA can be invoked in these cases — signalling a tougher stance against repeat offenders in the banned food items trade.
Officials, led by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe under the “Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra” campaign, urged citizens to report any information on banned pan masala or adulterated food to the FDA or the toll-free number 1800223365.