Abhitash Singh

Senior Correspondent for MiDDay (Covering ED,DRI, NCB & Navi Mumbai) earlier associated with HT, MiDDay, The Hindu, Mirror UK, ADC, FPJ & also B2B publications

[Abhitash Singh @AbhitashS]

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[Mid Day @mid_day]

A customer allegedly found a dead rat inside a Mysore masala dosa at Radhakrishna Hotel in Borivali. His brother had eaten a few bites before discovering it and reportedly vomited.

The complainant approached Borivali Police Station, while the incident has prompted calls for an FDA investigation into the eatery.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

On Monday, September 28, the FDA seized banned gutkha, pan masala and scented tobacco worth Rs 85.64 lakh from two trucks in Palghar and Kasara.

The two Eicher trucks, valued at Rs 41 lakh, were also seized, taking the total property to Rs 1.26 crore. Cases were registered.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Navi Mumbai Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit raided a spa in CBD Belapur on September 24 after receiving information about alleged prostitution activities. A decoy customer operation led to the raid, during which five women were rescued and a 24-year-old spa manager was arrested. Police allege that women were recruited as masseuses and subsequently pushed into prostitution. Three other accused have been named as wanted, and a case has been registered under the BNS and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Maharashtra FDA has issued comprehensive rules for infant nutrition products, making breastfeeding notices mandatory and banning advertisements, influencer promotions, free samples, gifts and discounts for infant food and milk substitutes.

The order also restricts packaging, sponsorships and additives, while requiring complementary foods only after six months.

Read more: https://t.co/fMmjazTOdB

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe on Tuesday responded to Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut’s allegations of corruption in the department, saying specific information or evidence against any FDA officer would be acted upon, but public statements alone cannot justify action.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

A CCTV hard disk that was earlier reported missing in the Disha Salian death case has been recovered and sent for forensic examination, potentially giving the CBI fresh electronic evidence to examine. The agency is looking into the earlier investigation, including questions surrounding the custody and availability of CCTV footage from the night of Salian’s death.

✍🏻 : Abhitash Singh

Read more: https://t.co/zs17dH9w9Y

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The police have also launched ‘Campus Connect’ to spread awareness about drug abuse and a confidential helpline to report drug-related activities.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Navi Mumbai Police destroyed 726 kg of seized narcotics worth Rs 26.30 crore in 201 cases at an authorised waste management facility in Taloja on Wednesday. The action was carried out under the ‘Nasha Mukt Navi Mumbai’ campaign following due legal procedures.

With this latest destruction, more than 1,000 kg of narcotics worth Rs 39.74 crore have been destroyed under the campaign.

✍️: Abhitash Singh

Read more: https://t.co/jV5hQSfLe6

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff have responded to Maharashtra FDA show-cause notices over their appearance in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe confirmed that two actors sought personal hearings, both of which were completed on September 28. The regulator is now proceeding to the next stage in the case, which concerns allegations of surrogate advertising for Vimal Pan Masala.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The FDA Maharashtra suspended the food licence of Subway’s Lower Parel outlet after an inspection found a faulty, mouldy refrigerator, live cockroaches, foul smell and water accumulation.

The September 26 inspection also flagged poor sanitation, improper food storage, damaged premises and missing pest-control records. The action followed a complaint received through the AI portal.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Western Railway has awarded five-year contracts worth Rs 1.20 crore for grocery stores and photocopy kiosks at five stations: Andheri, Naigaon, Amalner, Nandurbar and Virar.

✍🏻: Rajendra B. Aklekar

Read more: https://t.co/RVyUfC4SBv

[Abhitash Singh @AbhitashS]

Mumbai is set for heightened security as over 24,000 police personnel, including specialised units and a horse-mounted unit, will be deployed for Anant Chaturdashi visarjan on Friday.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

Mumbai is set for heightened security as over 24,000 police personnel, including specialised units and a horse-mounted unit, will be deployed for Anant Chaturdashi visarjan on Friday.

Police have also strengthened traffic arrangements, with 84 roads closed, 20 routes made one-way, and 95 hydraulic cranes deployed to clear breakdowns. AI, facial recognition, CCTV networks, watchtowers and temporary control rooms will also support crowd and traffic management.

✍️: Abhitash Singh

Read more: https://t.co/zMOkX1kD7o

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The FDA inspected Laxmi Farsan in Ghatkopar East on September 22 and found pest activity, improper food storage, and a lack of temperature-controlled facilities.

The establishment also lacked a proper cleaning schedule and failed to follow hygiene and sanitation requirements under Schedule 4, leading to licence suspension.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The Maharashtra FDA headquarters canteen has gone from serving idli, dosa and full meals to offering mainly tea, coffee, packaged biscuits and omelette-pav.

The contractor attributed the pared-down menu to fewer staff, retirements and a sharp decline in meal orders after COVID. Samosas, which were available until a few months ago, have also been discontinued.

✍️: Abhitash Singh

Read more: https://t.co/f7dQ4VNVr4

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The FDA seized around 2,464 kg of adulterated and misleadingly labelled ghee, refined sunflower oil and vanaspati from Gurukrupa Dairy Products in Malad East.

Officials found the ingredients being blended to make counterfeit ghee, while rats and cockroaches were also found on the premises. The licence was suspended.

[Abhitash Singh @AbhitashS]

@Dr_AshokSeth found roachie @JWSahar. He tagged @Tukaram_IndIAS & @fssaiindia while tweeting about the incident. @FDA_MAHARASHTRA took action against well-known establishments in @Mumbai. Report in today's @mid_day.

[Rajendra B. Aklekar @rajtoday]

Konkan passengers returning to Mumbai from #Ganapati festival. Courtesy Konkan Safari.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

The Tukaram Mundhe-led Maharashtra FDA seized banned gutkha and flavoured tobacco worth Rs 1.13 crore after a six-hour chase. The truck was reportedly carrying the consignment from Madhya Pradesh towards Bhiwandi via the Samruddhi Expressway, but changed course and headed towards Pune via Sangamner. FDA teams tracked the vehicle before it was intercepted at Chakan-Talegaon Chowk.

[Mid Day @mid_day]

A 25-year-old Pune engineer, Jaideep Nemade, died after complaining of breathlessness while waiting in the darshan queue at Lalbaugcha Raja in Mumbai.

His friends alerted police, who rushed him to a help desk before he was taken to hospital. The post-mortem report is awaited.