Raut Alleges Extortion by FDA Officials, Seeks Probe into Licensing Threats
Sanjay Raut has alleged that FDA officials are extorting lakhs from hotels and quick-commerce businesses by threatening to suspend their licences, and has demanded a probe.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has levelled serious allegations against officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), accusing them of running an extortion racket targeting hotels and quick-commerce businesses.
According to Raut, designated officers (DOs), assistant commissioners and food safety officers (FSOs) are openly threatening eateries and quick-commerce operators with the suspension of their licences. He claimed that these officials are engaging in widespread extortion, demanding lakhs of rupees from the businesses.
The allegations suggest a systemic misuse of regulatory powers, with licence suspension being used as a lever to extract money from food businesses. Quick-commerce firms, which have expanded rapidly in recent years, appear to be among the targets.
Raut has called for a probe into the matter, urging authorities to investigate the conduct of the officials named in his complaint. The demand for an inquiry raises questions about oversight and accountability within the food safety regulatory apparatus.
No response from the FDA or any official named in the allegations has been reported so far. The matter is likely to draw attention to the functioning of food safety enforcement and the pressures faced by businesses operating in the sector.