Maharashtra: Canteen staff assaulted by Shinde Sena MLA, licence also suspended

“The team collected samples of food like paneer, sauces and dal. These will be sent to the laboratory; the reports are expected in 14 days,” an FDA official said.

By evening, the FDA issued suspension notice to Ajanta Caterer, the canteen operator. “….the licence granted to your establishment from date 26-06-2024 to legal validity date 27-09-2027 is being suspended with immediate effect. You are further informed that during the licence suspension period mentioned in the attached order, you or anyone on your behalf should not buy, sell or distribute food items; if found doing so, you should note that legal action will be taken against you for selling/ distributing food items without a valid licence as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the rules/ regulations thereunder,” the order said.

Earlier in the day, amid calls for action against him, including from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gaikwad said he didn’t regret his action and would “repeat it if needed”. “When someone fails to understand democratic language, I have to use this language,” he said.

While the alleged incident happened on Tuesday night, the Opposition raised the matter in the Legislative Council on Wednesday and sought Gaikwad’s suspension.

Speaking in the Legislative Council, Fadnavis said Gaikwad’s behaviour had tarnished the image of the Legislature, and the Assembly Speaker and Legislative Council Chairman should decide on action against him.

Saying that elected representatives should behave “responsibly”, Gaikwad’s party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he had reprimanded the MLA.

In the purported video clip of the incident, Gaikwad, wearing a towel around his waist and a vest, is seen confronting the canteen staff over what he claimed was sour dal and spoiled rice. He then repeatedly assaults a canteen employee and tells others not to pay their bills. His supporters, too, are seen assaulting the canteen workers.

No police complaint had been filed till evening.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Gaikwad claimed that was served stale food in his room. He said he had complained about the quality of food earlier, but no action was taken. “If such food is being served to an MLA, imagine what the common man must be getting,” said the MLA, who represents Buldhana Assembly constituency.

“I have no regrets over what I did. I am a public representative… when someone fails to understand democratic language, then I have to use this language. I had complained to the authorities on several occasions. I don’t regret it and I will repeat it if needed,” he said.

“The food was absolutely unacceptable… completely spoiled. I will raise this issue in the ongoing Legislative session,” he said. He also met Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar to complain about the food.

Raising the matter in the Legislative Council, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab said: “A senior MLA in the government comes in a vest and towel and beats up an employee. Are there any directions on how legislators should behave? Are these people coming directly from the street? What was the crime of that employee? This is tarnishing the image of your government.” He said the MLA should be suspended.

Fadnavis said Gaikwad’s behaviour was not dignified and tarnished the image of the Legislature. He said the MLA could have complained about the food, “but beating a person like this and a video coming out will affect our image”.

“This sends the wrong message to the people. It is not right to behave like this in front of the people. The Chairman and Assembly Speaker should take note of this and decide what action to take on this,” Fadnavis said.

Shinde said he had reprimanded Gaikwad. “He was given stale and spoiled food… He vomitted after eating the food. Hence, in a fit of rage, he beat up the worker. But an MLA is a lawmaker. It is not right to beat up anyone, and I have warned him. Elected representatives from all parties must behave responsibly,” he said.

The Opposition Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leaders sought action against the MLA.

Sena UBT president Uddhav Thackeray said it could be a “conspiracy to malign” Fadnavis’s image. “I think there is a conspiracy to malign the image of Fadnavis. He (Shinde) wanted to become CM, but wasn’t made, so it could be a larger conspiracy to defame the CM; he (Fadnavis) should remain alert,” he said.

This is not the first time that Gaikwad has courted controversy. In September 2024, he had offered a reward of Rs 11 lakh to anyone who would “chop off the tongue” of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over the latter’s remarks on caste and reservation. An FIR was registered against him.

Earlier last year, he landed in legal trouble with the Forest Department after claiming in a video that he had hunted a tiger in 1987 and wore its tooth as a pendant. The Forest Department seized the tooth and booked Gaikwad under the Wildlife Protection Act.