Mumbai: Senior IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has dismissed speculation about his transfer from Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA), asserting that he continues to serve as the department’s Commissioner and that its drive against food adulteration, unsafe products and substandard medicines will remain firmly on track.
The 2005-batch IAS officer issued the clarification on Monday night, October 12, through a post on social media platform X, following reports suggesting that his appointment to a government-appointed inquiry committee probing alleged irregularities in the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) had led to a change in his posting.
Categorically rejecting the reports, Mundhe made it clear that his new responsibility on the inquiry panel had not displaced his existing role as FDA Commissioner.
“No, I have not been transferred from FDA. नाही, माझी FDA मधून बदली झालेली नाही. I continue to serve as Commissioner, FDA Maharashtra. Our fight against unsafe, substandard, adulterated food and spurious, substandard drugs goes on,” he stated.
The clarification comes amid heightened public attention to the FDA’s enforcement campaign, which has involved inspections and action against alleged violations of food safety and drug quality standards across Maharashtra.
Mundhe’s statement signals that the department’s enforcement priorities remain unchanged, despite speculation over his administrative responsibilities.
MPSC panel appointment sparks rumours
The transfer speculation gathered momentum after the Maharashtra government appointed Mundhe as secretary of a five-member committee constituted to investigate allegations of irregularities in the functioning of the MPSC, including suspected question paper leaks.
The committee was announced following a prolonged agitation by MPSC aspirants in Pune. Protesters staged demonstrations for ten consecutive days at S M Joshi Bridge, demanding greater transparency in recruitment examinations and accountability for alleged irregularities.
Following discussions with the aspirants, the state government accepted several demands and announced the inquiry panel, assigning Mundhe a key administrative role.
His appointment subsequently fuelled speculation that he might be shifted out of the FDA to take up the new assignment. His October 12 statement, however, clarified that he continues to hold the Commissioner’s post.
Former High Court judge to head inquiry panel
The five-member committee is tasked with examining alleged irregularities in the MPSC and reviewing issues concerning the functioning of the state’s recruitment machinery.
The panel comprises former Bombay High Court judge Dilip Bhosale as chairman, Tukaram Mundhe as secretary, IPS officer Lakshmi Gautam, former IAS officer Ganesh Patil and retired judge P D Naik as members.
Maharashtra minister Shivendraraje Bhosale announced the committee’s formation on Sunday after meeting the protesting aspirants in Pune.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also indicated that the inquiry will examine the tenures of current and former MPSC chairpersons and members.
The panel is expected to address concerns raised by candidates over the conduct of competitive examinations, recruitment procedures and institutional accountability.
For now, Mundhe’s clarification has drawn a clear distinction between his additional responsibility on the MPSC inquiry panel and his continuing charge of the FDA, where the campaign against unsafe food and substandard medicines remains a key priority.
