Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended four officials over alleged unauthorised raids conducted outside their jurisdiction in Pune and Bhiwandi.
The action was taken after the Chief Minister's approval, with the FDA issuing a government resolution ordering the suspension of the four officials. The department has also initiated a departmental inquiry against 21 officials, with further action to be taken based on its findings.
The four suspended officials are Joint Commissioner (Food) Digambar Bhogawade, Assistant Commissioner (Food) Yaduraj Dahatonde, and Food Safety Officers Ashok Ilager and C. R. Swamy.
The action follows allegations that FDA officials had conducted raids in Pune and Bhiwandi beyond their authorised jurisdiction. The department has described the action as one of the biggest disciplinary measures taken against FDA officials so far.
The officials involved in the inquiry include personnel from the Thane and Pune divisions.
In the Thane Division, the inquiry involves Joint Commissioner Shrikant Karkale, Assistant Commissioner P P Suryavanshi, and Food Safety Officers K Y Chiplunkar, Shubhangi Jitendra Karne, Ashok Y Ilager, C R Swamy and Manik Jadhav. Scientific…