Tukaram Mundhe Seeks Evidence on Extortion Charges Against FDA Officials

Mumbai: Amid extortion allegations against Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials, its Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Tuesday said he had not received even a single complaint in this connection, but called for punishing the black sheep if there are any. The FDA chief, however, demanded concrete evidence against officials to take stern action against them.

On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused FDA officials of indulging in extortion and threatening hotels and quick-commerce businesses with licence suspensions, and demanded an independent inquiry against them.

Reacting to the charges, Mundhe said the FDA is absolutely transparent.

"It has been issuing daily bulletins on actions taken by the agency. There is nothing to hide," he said.

The FDA Commissioner said he has written to the Director General of the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) that the FDA was strictly enforcing the law pertaining to food violations.

"If the ACB has any information about FDA officers involved in it, then it should step up vigilance and take action," it said.

"It (complaint of bribe) has not come to my notice. Please bring it to my notice if it is happening. If there are any black sheep, they should be punished. There is no question about it. The way officers who make mistake should be punished, those who resort to malpractices should also be punished," Mundhe said.

"If there is any information, please pass it on to me. We will act swiftly but I will need evidence," he added.

The chief of the state food and drug regulatory authority said he has been holding hearings pertaining to appeals of those whose licences have been suspended.

"I also ask them (those who have appealed against the suspension of license) whether our officers have sought bribes. I don't have a single complaint that any officer has sought bribes," he said.

Without taking his name, Mundhe also asked Raut to share specific details of officials seeking bribes.