Known online as “Singham IAS”, Tukaram Mundhe has turned Maharashtra’s FDA into a fearsome watchdog for food safety. Since taking charge in May 2026, he has ordered over a thousand inspections, shut non-compliant outlets and challenged celebrity-backed ads for banned pan masala products, insisting that everyone involved in unsafe or illegal food promotion faces strict action.
THE RECENT FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) crackdown in Maharashtra has become the talk of the town, making headlines for taking immediate action against establishments violating food safety guidelines.
From cancelling the food licence of a Blinkit store to issuing notices to A-listers such as Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff over their endorsement of Vimal Elaichi, the FDA-led crackdown has once again reminded us of the importance of food safety in India.
At the centre of the ‘Safe Food, Safe Medicine, Safe Maharashtra’ campaign is IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe, who is leading the operation and has become the internet’s new muse. Tukaram Mundhe has also earned various nicknames such as ‘Singham IAS’. He took charge as the FDA commissioner on May 15, 2026.
Mundhe’s most recent crackdown is against advertisements promoting prohibited items. The Maharashtra FDA has issued show-cause notices to Khan, Devgn and Shroff over their roles in an advertisement for the Vimal Elaichi brand. The notices allege that the advertisement aims to promote Vimal Pan Masala, which is illegal and therefore prohibited from being manufactured, stored, distributed or sold in Maharashtra.
“No one will be spared,” Tukaram Mundhe told news agency PTI. He further added that the regulations are mandatory for everyone involved in publishing, sponsoring, or advertising these products. “Whoever is involved in this will be issued notices and action will be taken against them,” said IAS officer Mundhe.
IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe’s method of carrying out the operation has been labelled as strict and necessary by many users on the internet. With rising curiosity about the IAS officer, netizens have been praising Mundhe for his courage and resolute mindset.
Tukaram Mundhe is the commissioner of the Maharashtra FDA and is currently leading a massive food crackdown in the state, promoting food safety and ensuring that mandatory norms are followed. Mundhe’s instant rise to fame has also sparked curiosity about the IAS officer’s background, as he has become a nightmare for stores that do not comply with food safety guidelines.
Mundhe is a 2005-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer who was born in Tadsona village in Maharashtra’s Beed district in 1975. According to several media reports, the ‘Singham IAS’ was born into a family of farmers and had humble beginnings. As per a report by The Times of India, Mundhe grew up in a region that faced water shortages and agriculture-related issues.
Despite the challenges, Tukaram Mundhe cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2004, securing an All India Rank (AIR) of 20. He also holds a BA in History and an MA in Political Science from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Maharashtra. His journey as an IAS officer took him to several districts, including Nanded, Washim and Jalna. Mundhe also served as the district collector of Solapur, where his work to address the region’s water shortage became one of the major highlights of his professional career.
When Mundhe was posted as the collector of Solapur district in 2014, he was faced with a region that was experiencing an acute shortage of water. Mundhe’s immediate administrative intervention helped avert the crisis and resolve the issue, which required extensive attention. He improved the region’s water conservation efforts through the Jalyukt Shivar programme, resulting in reduced reliance on water tankers for many people. He was also known as the “Water Man of Maharashtra.”
During his tenure as the commissioner of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, he took strict action against unauthorised hoardings and construction in the region. His early-morning inspection approach became quite popular as it allowed him to take a closer look at the situations on the ground.
In a career spanning 21 years, reports suggest that Tukaram Mundhe has been transferred 25 times, earning him a “fearless” image among many people.
In May 2026, Tukaram Mundhe joined as the commissioner of the FDA and has conducted around 1,131 inspections in the state since taking charge. Several stores and popular food chains have faced dire consequences for violating food safety guidelines.
(Edited by Harsh Pandey)
Suggested Reading:
Subscribe to our channels on YouTube and WhatsApp
Download our app on Play Store
