Tukaram Mundhe, a Maharashtra-cadre IAS officer, has spent more than two decades working across administration, public health, urban development and water conservation. Now serving as Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, he is leading an intensified crackdown on unsafe food practices and poor hygiene, making food safety a major public conversation.

Born in Beed, Maharashtra, in 1975, Mundhe grew up in a farming family and experienced financial hardships during his childhood. These experiences motivated him to pursue civil services.

He completed his education in Aurangabad and cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2004, securing Rank 20 without formal coaching. He joined the Maharashtra cadre as an IAS officer in 2005.

Over his career, Mundhe has served in several important administrative positions and has often taken strong action against issues such as corruption, poor civic services and water-related challenges.

His frequent transfers and uncompromising approach have earned him the nickname “Singham”, while his work in water conservation has also earned him recognition as the “Waterman of Maharashtra.”

In 2026, Mundhe took charge as Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and intensified inspections of restaurants, food businesses, warehouses and other establishments.

Inspections have uncovered issues including pest infestations, poor sanitation, improper food storage and other food-safety violations. The action has included notices, licence suspensions and seizures in serious cases.

The latest action came after FDA inspections of three ISKCON food establishments in Juhu on September 3. Their licences were suspended following serious food-safety and hygiene violations.

The establishments included Govinda’s Restaurant, ISKCON Juhu Food Services–Restaurant and the main food establishment at Hare Krishna Land.

Inspectors reported pest infestation, inadequate cleaning and drainage, improper food storage and poor segregation of raw and cooked food. At Govinda’s Restaurant, standing water in cold storage and blocked drains were also reported.

The FDA also found gaps in records related to water testing, employee medical checks, vaccination, food-safety training and audits.

The ISKCON action is part of Mundhe’s wider food-safety campaign across Maharashtra. The FDA has also taken action against other establishments, including a Zepto-linked facility in Malad, a milk business in Kharghar and an IRCTC-linked kitchen in Kurla.

The inspections underline Mundhe’s stated focus on ensuring that food-safety rules apply equally to establishments, regardless of their size or reputation.

Mundhe’s inspections have attracted significant attention online, turning him into an unlikely public figure. But behind the viral videos and high-profile raids is a broader message: food safety is a public-health responsibility.

His challenge now is to ensure that stronger enforcement leads to lasting improvements in how food is prepared, stored and served across Maharashtra.