Chhatrapati Sambhajinagarg: An angry crowd in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar confronted a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer and allegedly tried to force him to eat expired biscuits after accusing him of shielding a shopkeeper over a suspected bribery deal.
The dramatic confrontation, captured on video, reportedly took place in the Vaijapur area after residents raised concerns about expired food being sold at a local paan shop. The incident has since drawn attention to food safety enforcement in the district.
According to local residents, the matter began after a two year old child reportedly fell ill after consuming a savoury snack mix purchased from the shop. The child allegedly experienced dizziness, and when the condition worsened, the family took the child to a hospital for treatment.
Following the incident, the child’s family and other residents approached the FDA office in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and lodged a complaint against the shop.
An FDA officer subsequently visited the shop for an inspection. Residents alleged that the snack mix believed to be linked to the child’s illness had already been removed before the inspection began.
During the inspection, however, the officer reportedly found several packets of expired biscuits at the premises. The expired products were seized, but locals alleged that the shopkeeper was not subjected to sufficiently strict action.
The situation escalated when residents accused the officer of attempting to settle the matter after allegedly accepting a bribe. The allegation has not been independently established, and there is no confirmed finding in the available reports that the officer accepted money.
As tempers flared, the crowd surrounded the official and challenged him to eat the expired biscuits if they were safe. Video footage shows people confronting him, with some reportedly attempting to push the biscuits into his mouth while accusing him of protecting the shopkeeper.
The episode comes as Maharashtra’s FDA steps up inspections against food adulteration, expired products and other food safety violations across the state.
As of August 29, no confirmed information has emerged in the available reports about any arrest, suspension or formal departmental action arising specifically from the confrontation or the bribery allegations. The allegations against both the officer and the shopkeeper therefore remain allegations unless established through an official investigation.
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