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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:05newsmakers, talking points, our biggest talking point. It's been India's biggest ever food safety
00:12crackdown. 100 days of Maharashtra's food and drug campaign that has seen more than 600 notices
00:21of suspension being issued to various outlets. Tukaram Mundi, the man who's being described as
00:28a real-life Singham, will join me live in exclusive. Also, Delhi demolitions, too little, too late.
00:37Why have things gone so wrong in the national capital? But first, as always, it's time for
00:45the nine headlines at nine tonight. Oil crosses the $100 mark after tensions flare up in West Asia.
00:53U.S. strikes five Iranian oil tankers after Tehran attacks 10 ships and a U.S. base in Jordan.
01:06India today accesses the NIA charge sheet in the Delhi Redford blast case. Bomber had wrecked Redford
01:14multiple times since December 23, followed manual link to an Al-Qaeda offshoot.
01:24Fifth arrest made in Delhi's PG building collapse case. Delhi government cracks down on the PG
01:29mafia. Illegal PG's raised. Rent caps propose for all.
01:36In Tamil Nadu, Team Vijay finally gets a name. Alliance renamed Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.
01:44The N government also gives a nod for a construction of a new TN secretariat.
01:51Political war breaks out over the Sangroor suicide case. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi
01:56slams AAP over drug menace in Punjab. Chief Minister Maan urges Congress to not politicize the issue.
02:06The Telangana Speaker insult Raul intensifies. 22 BRS MLS suspended from the Telangana Assembly
02:12for the remainder of the session, including KTR. Chief Minister Revan Threddy wants an apology from the BRS.
02:23Election Commission refutes reports claiming Bharat Ratna's CNR Rao was issued an SIR notice,
02:29but the poll bloody admits action has been initiated to add his name in the voter roll.
02:35Earlier, his name was not on it.
02:41No Prasadam at Juhu's ISKCON in Mumbai for the first time after the Food and Drug Administration
02:47shuts down its kitchen. Licenses of three outlets in the temple were suspended
02:52after the FDA found grave food safety violations.
02:57And five rescued orangutans shifted to a zoo in Bhubaneshwar.
03:02Kept in quarantine, probe launched into how the exotic apes ended up in an Odisha forest.
03:17But our big story today, this week marks a hundred days since India's biggest ever food safety drive
03:25was started in Maharashtra. The state got someone who's being described as a real-life singham
03:32in Tukaram Munde, who joined as the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration three months ago.
03:39In these three months, Munde has been a man in a hurry.
03:43The inspections launched by him across eateries run by various renowned outlets
03:50have now reached even the International Society for Krishna Consciousness or ISKCON.
03:56Ahead of the festival season, the FDA says the message is clear.
04:00Anyone, anyone, anyone flouting hygiene norms will face the law.
04:05We will be joined by the man of the moment for an exclusive interview.
04:09But before that, take a look at just why this FDA crackdown is creating waves,
04:15not just in Maharashtra, but across the country.
04:18Our report and top story from Mustafa Sheikh.
04:26Three restaurants run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Mumbai
04:30remained shut on Wednesday.
04:33Their licenses were suspended after raids by Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration
04:38found several violations of norms.
04:42The three ISKCON outlets impacted are the main food establishment at Hare Krishna Land,
04:48ISKCON Juhu Food Services, and Govindas Restaurant.
04:52At the main food establishment at Hare Krishna Land,
04:56the FDA found inadequate checks of raw materials,
04:59improper storage conditions, pest infestation,
05:03an inadequate cleaning and drainage,
05:06and missing records of water testing,
05:08employee medical checks, vaccination, training, and audits.
05:14At Govindas Restaurant, inspectors found standing water in cold storage,
05:19blocked drains, pest control deficiencies,
05:22and inadequate segregation of raw and cooked food.
05:27The raids under Save Food, Save Maharashtra is undergoing.
05:32And the recent raids which have taken place at ISKCON Temple,
05:36the eateries run under this temple trust.
05:39All three eateries or the kitchen have been shut down.
05:41We are presently in Juhu, outside the premises of Hare Rama Hare Krishna Temple.
05:46And here you can see the board of one of the restaurants which was run by,
05:52which has now been given a closure notice.
05:54It's the Govindas Bristow and also the Govindas Restaurant.
05:57The FDA has introduced a permanent festival enforcement calendar
06:02and standard operating procedure.
06:04This framework replaces temporary festive specific drives
06:08with a continuous year-round strategy to tackle food adulteration
06:11and prevent food poisoning during large-scale public and religious events.
06:16FDA officials have clarified that there is no ban on religious traditions,
06:21cultural activities, bhandaras, or prasad distributions.
06:25The directive strictly regulates food safety, not the celebration itself.
06:31The FDA recently mandated that all organisers of large community food events,
06:35including Langar, Mahaprasad, Bhandara, Iftar, and Weddings,
06:41must obtain prior official permission at least seven days before they went.
06:47The ongoing food safety drive is among the biggest the country has seen.
06:52In the last three months since Tukaram Munday took charge of FDA,
06:5637,604 samples of food and drugs were collected,
07:00out of which 32,604 samples have been tested.
07:05Of the total tested samples, 15,268 were found substandard.
07:12In comparison, during entire financial year 2025-26,
07:16the FDA had collected 47,600 samples and tested 33,119.
07:25The FDA, under its new chief, Tukaram Munday,
07:29has acted against 880 drug manufacturing and sales establishments as well.
07:34It seized illegal medicines and cosmetics worth 11.41 crore rupees between June and August,
07:41compared with 13.64 crore during the previous financial year.
07:57And joining me now is my newsmaker and really the man of the moment,
08:03the man who's being described by many as the real-life singer of Mumbai and Maharashtra
08:07and possibly setting an example for the country,
08:10joined by the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner of Maharashtra, Tukaram Munday.
08:17Appreciate, Mr. Munday, you joining us.
08:20100 days that you've completed in office and you've created a real stir.
08:24The latest, Mr. Munday, being that you or the FDA went and suspended the license of restaurants
08:31connected with ISKCON.
08:33Now, ISKCON is seen as part of, of course, the Krishna Consciousness Movement.
08:37Even the Prasadham today was stopped.
08:40And many are saying now, Tukaram Munday is touching institutions which were seen as untouchable.
08:46How do you respond to those who say,
08:48what led Tukaram Munday to even touch now the ISKCON eateries and restaurants?
08:59I believe, Rajdeep, we have to understand from the, what the issue is.
09:03We are not touching any establishment which is not untouchable.
09:07The issue here is food safety and standards.
09:10Nothing less, nothing more.
09:12So, whoever is a food business operator,
09:15they have to abide by the rules and regulations
09:18and they have to provide the food which is as per the standards and safety
09:21which are laid down since 2011.
09:24It is not something new legislation, new law, new compliance order.
09:27It is actually a part of the legislation.
09:30The intention is that, whoever consumes the food has to be as per the standards and safety.
09:35So, be it big, small, whatever by name.
09:39So, we are not here to say that this is not this particular food item or food eater or food
09:45business operator
09:46does not come into picture.
09:47It comes.
09:48Whoever is in the business of food is covered by food business operator and rules and regulations.
09:54So, in this case, we had got a complaint and that's why we went there.
09:58We found deficiencies and non-compliance there.
10:00We have taken action.
10:02Whether it's this establishment or that, we look at the other way around also.
10:06So, the same day we had taken action against the IRCTC vendors.
10:12There are multiple vendors which were checked, I think, are of 5, 6 odd in Mumbai or MMR region,
10:18one of which was suspended, four others were given improvement notices.
10:22So, it's not about, there is no food business operator which is untouchable.
10:26Everybody is equal in the eyes of the law and that is about compliance of standards and safety
10:32because it is ultimately affecting the public health and that's the mandate which is given
10:37to me by the law and that's what we are trying to implement it.
10:40I take your point, but what will you tell people just ahead of the festive season,
10:45Ganesh Chaturthi, today no Prasad at the ISKCON temple because the FDA shut the kitchen.
10:50You've suspended the licenses of these three food units run by ISKCON in Juhu, Mumbai
10:56and apparently your statement says the food units found serious food safety and hygiene violations
11:03including pest infestation, inadequate food storage and segregation.
11:07So, I mean, the point I'm making, you're telling me uniform standards, if there is any violation
11:13even in the Prasad that is made at ISKCON temple or tomorrow, dare I say, in a church or mosque
11:18or any religious place of worship, you are doing what is the mandate of the law.
11:23Am I correct?
11:23There is nothing else beyond that.
11:27Absolutely, absolutely, if you see a few days back we had issued a year-long compliance order
11:33for all the festivity season also and it is again I am talking about only food safety.
11:39We are not talking any religion, we are not talking any region, we are not talking about
11:44a particular, we are absolutely secular, we are absolutely religion neutral, festival neutral.
11:50So, it is not about festival, culture, practices, we are not talking about anything of that.
11:56It is for the people to decide what way they will celebrate.
12:00My concern as a food safety commissioner relates to food being served there by the caterers
12:06or food business operators who they have to abide by these regulations.
12:11That's as simple as this.
12:12But the reason, sir, I am asking you is that…
12:14This issue does not go beyond that.
12:15So, the reason I am asking you, as you know that Ganesh Chaturthi is the largest festival
12:19in Maharashtra and there are festivals across the country now because this is the festival season
12:24and one of the things that happens in these festivals, community kitchens, large amounts
12:28of prasad in Maharashtra, modaks are distributed.
12:31Are you saying the MDA is going to go to some of these Ganesh Utsa mandals to check the quality
12:37of food being served through their kitchen?
12:39Is that you believe something that is very much within your mandate?
12:43It should be purely seen as the law operating?
12:46Yeah, please.
12:48Yeah, just look at it very clearly.
12:51I will make it clear if there is some confusion either with you or some other people who are
12:55watching it.
12:56This every year, festival orders are issued almost for every festive season so that food
13:04foisting or substandard food does not happen.
13:06It does not affect the health.
13:08It is not for the first time you are issuing this order or implementing this order.
13:12This has been practiced since 2011.
13:14So, it is not something new order, first thing.
13:17Second is, what I have done differently this year, rather than going for an individual festive
13:22specific order, we have gone for a year-long standing order and all festivities are covered
13:30under it.
13:30Whether it is a New Year year, whether it is a Christmas, whether it is a Eid, whether it
13:35is a Guru Nanak Jayanti, all are covered under it.
13:37And what is covered under, let us be very, very clear about it.
13:40If there are food business operators or caterer who are making this, they have to be registered
13:45because normally also they are supposed to be registered.
13:47So, there we know what businesses they are doing, where they are doing, what they are doing.
13:51So, that is first part.
13:53Second part is, what we have done?
13:55We have done four stage, what we call, there is almost 50 days, year-long calendar in four
14:03stage, before 21 days of the major festival, our officers will start where this raw materials
14:10comes from, they will start checking the go-downs, they will start checking the milk industry,
14:15they will start checking the edible oil from where they are procuring.
14:18So that the raw material which is purchased is also as per the standard is the first part.
14:22Second part comes from one day to 15 days.
14:26Where we come to now, this is where the festival is being run, this much number of people will
14:31be there, this is the vendor who is going to provide the food.
14:34That is where we will intervene, that we will tell, we will guide them, whatever the food
14:39is being prepared is as per the standard and safety.
14:42And the third part comes, during the festival, our vehicle on the fields will go there, my
14:48officers will go there.
14:49They will check whether, they will take samples, if they are, that will be sent to the lab.
14:55And the fourth part will come after that, whatever the samples are there, following those samples,
14:59what is happening to that, about lab, if those who have not followed whatever the
15:04investigation, prosecution, legal procedures, how to be completed in the next 30 days.
15:09So all this is actually a standing operating procedure across year, across festive season.
15:15So it is not one-up order, it is not just for Ganapati festival, it is not for a particular
15:20religion or region, it is across and we have categorized these festivities in three categories,
15:24state level, regional level and local level.
15:27So there is a clarity among my officers, there is a clarity among the organizers and clarity among
15:32the people. So we have clarified it, it is absolutely clear and this is basically public
15:37health issue. And we are dealing with only food and food safety, nothing less, nothing
15:42more. Very clear about it.
15:44Sir, the point is, you are making the point that this is a standard operating procedure
15:47that has been followed since 2011. There is nothing new. The point is, you are enforcing
15:52it. You see, these SOPs have existed, but you are enforcing it. And that is why you are,
15:57in a sense, you know, people are watching every move that you are making. I have never heard
16:03of an FDA commissioner's name even in the past, to be very honest, or the FDA department
16:08doing what you are doing. As I said, the latest being suspending the license of premises run
16:13by ISKOR. Now, I just want to put, you know, you completed 100 days, sir, on Monday. In those
16:18three months, there have been searches around 5,000 food establishments across Maharashtra, licenses
16:24of around 600 establishments were suspended. The rest were given improvement notices. And
16:29this is significant. 300% increase in FDA action in the last 100 days. You know, the point
16:36is, you are enforcing the law. Now, that's the point. Are you doing it because you want
16:42to, in a way, send out a strong message of fear of the law? You violate the law? Mr.
16:47Munde and his team will come after you. Until now, orders were issued, but were never enforced.
16:54You are enforcing them.
16:59Two issues. One is, you are underestimating the efforts of FDA. It's not 5,000 inspection.
17:04It's more than 12,000 inspection in the last three months, 100 days. So, that's the number
17:08first one. Second is, out of those 5,000 food business operator who have been inspected,
17:13more than 5,000 have been given improvement notices. And the third part is that around
17:19600, 600, 1, 2 or 3 have licenses have been suspended. So, that's about food. Almost,
17:25if you look at a drug sector also, more than 2,300 inspections or visits have been done
17:31during the same period. Around 800 licenses of different, whether it's a pharmacy or manufacturer
17:36some product, blood centers, whether it's a private testing lab, have been suspended or
17:42canceled. And there has been almost 11 crore seizure in drug sector and around 67 odd crores
17:50in food sector. And almost, even if you look at the testing, we have collected more than
17:5735,000 samples in last three months, of which 32,000 samples have been tested. So, we have
18:04worked on all the fronts, whether it's a food samples, food inspections, drug samples, drug
18:10inspections, laboratories, we have across. Now, why you are doing this? It's mandated as
18:16per the law. Now, the question is, why you are saying, you are forcing to create the fear?
18:21I am not creating the fear. What we want to create is a compliance culture among the food
18:26business operator or the establishment, whether it's a drug or food, compliance culture. The reason,
18:33Rajdeep, here is just not a issue of food or drug. Please understand the context. This directly affects
18:39the health of the people and that also has to be contextualized. Look at the disease burden in India
18:47today as against the independence. See, please understand, at the time of independence, we had a
18:53disease burden of communicable diseases, which are in the range of 65 to 70 percent. Today, the ratio is
18:59reversed and disease burden of non-communicable diseases is in the range of 65 to 70 percent.
19:06So, ratio is reversed. Another major causes for non-communicable diseases, you are talking about,
19:11say, whatever, obesity, you are talking about cancer, you are talking about cardiovascular diseases
19:18and illnesses. One of the major causes and reasons is what we consume. So, if that is the reason and
19:29on the other hand, we expect that public health expenditure has to be increased to, say, 6 percent,
19:348 percent, whatever, including public and private or particular of a GDP percentage. If you are taking,
19:40if you are legally implementing the law, as expected food safety laws and drug laws, this expenditure in
19:46long term will go down. And that is where we are aiming at public health has to be improved,
19:52so that productivity of an individual go up, productivity of a family will go up, ultimately
19:57GDP will go up on the one hand. On the second hand, if you look at the backward side of
20:01it,
20:02say, example, we are implementing food safety and standards properly, say, milk, we are tackling one
20:09of the measures of milk and milk products. In Maharashtra, I am told, though I cannot have scientific data,
20:14but whatever I am hearing from districts and villages and corporations is that the milk
20:22purchase price by dairies and the consumers has gone up by 10 to 20 rupees per litre in last three
20:31months time. Now, there can be multiple causes to it. I am not saying this is the only company,
20:35this definitely is the one contributory factor where the income of farmer is increasing. So, on the one
20:40hand, income of farmer will increase. Productivity and standard of living in the long run will go up
20:47for farmers. On the other hand, people will get safe food. Ultimately, health will improve. So,
20:52it's actually a win-win situation for the people. So, I take your point, you're saying…
20:57And producers who are in the farming sector. I take your point that you're saying,
21:01therefore, that this is a drive to ensure compliance and improve the quality of public health above all
21:08else. But I have a point here. You see, in your pharma crackdown, all the focus is on the food.
21:14Very few are focusing on your pharma drug crackdown. Seizures in Maharashtra alone, between June and
21:19August 2026, since you've taken over, 11.41 crore of these drugs have been seized. In 25, 26,
21:27the entire year, just over 13.6 crores were seized. It means in three months, you've seized almost as
21:34were seized in the last year. I again come back to food. In terms of suspension of licenses or notices
21:40sent, you've sent far more in these three months than were sent in the entire year. Does that mean
21:44that the Food and Drug Administration, before you took over, was not functioning, turning a blind eye
21:49to this? And therefore, this is a wake-up call. What you have done in the last 90 days suggests
21:54to me
21:55that nothing was being done in the past, or not enough, certainly, was being done in the past?
22:03I believe that, Rajdeep, when I stepped in this position, the systems were in place. So it did not
22:10have stepped in a vacuum. People have done work since 2011 or before that, since this act came into
22:16existence. System were needed to be placed, whether it's digitization system, whether it's officers to be
22:22appointed, whether the officers to be set up. And particularly, this law being implemented since 2011,
22:27this new compliance also required an approach change among the food business operator and in my offices.
22:32So that has been there. So we are working furthering the cause. It's not as if I have just started
22:37from vacuum and created everything. The system did exist. That's why we are doing. We still need
22:41improvement. We will do that. Now the scale can be different. I mean, we can discuss, debate, whatever we
22:46may say. But people have contributed. It's not just me. Now why that, it has, one of the reasons,
22:53what you directly and indirectly asking is, why sudden rise? Now sudden rise, I believe that when
22:59I joined, we created something called a mission mode approach. And we have decided very, very clear
23:06mission. Mission is safe foods, safe drugs, safe Maratha, I have said earlier on your channel also.
23:10So this is a mission. And we have defined very, very clear, defined strategy also. What has happened
23:16is, there is a clarity of purpose. There is a, there is a, there is a clarity of purpose, you
23:23know,
23:24you're saying, you're saying clarity of purpose, there's a commitment, there's a mission approach.
23:29Now, can I for a moment turn to the flip side? Because the flip side is that you've been accused
23:35by the Bombay High Court, you are, meaning the FDA, you're going overboard, the court has said,
23:40imposed a five lakh cost on you for not restoring a pune shop's license. Once they said you're using
23:47a sword to kill a mosquito. Then they said that you have a pedantic view and cleared the reopening of
23:56five eateries at the Mumbai Cricket Association premises. Then on 30th August, the same court says,
24:01tired of scolding your officers. The point I'm making, the court seem to, or at least a section
24:07of the court thinks that Mr. Munde is going overboard. What will you tell those who say,
24:13are you going overboard in this mission mode of yours?
24:20Absolutely not. I am bound by, as a public servant by rules, regulations, processes. We are following
24:26that. Now, this, what your statement you are saying, are basically might have come in an argument.
24:33It has not, it is not a part of order except this five lakh rupees fine, which was imposed,
24:38for which we are actually availing the remedy. We likely to, we are examining whether it can be SLP
24:45in the Supreme Court or it can be review. So, we are examining that and we are taking
24:49resort to that. Because we believe that in that case also, we did follow the due process,
24:53we did follow the law. Our officers have not erred in that. Now, second point what you are saying,
24:58whenever court makes some observations, we do take it seriously. And if there are some errors,
25:03either in the process or application of law or interpretation of law, we did take seriously
25:08and we rectify wherever they are. But by and large, we have seen that we have not gone overboard.
25:13In case of some MCA, what we are talking about, court had actually given some direction and the
25:18direction was that my designated officer or assistant commissioner had to pass an order
25:23on particular point on which order was passed, but not on that exactly point. That's what it,
25:29the court order that way. And then court told that issue a notice, issue the order on that point
25:35and take further call. So, we are following that process. So, it's not as if we are not following
25:38the court order. But very clearly, I can do that. Could you, could you have gone, could you have,
25:42we are following the due process. Now, you're saying due process, but could you have given
25:46maybe warnings to some of these establishments, which have been long, long running establishments,
25:52you've actually suspended or temporarily or otherwise licenses of top clubs, of restaurants that have
25:58been in Mumbai for more than 50 years, like K. Rustam, you've now gone to ISKCON. Could you have
26:03given them warnings before you suspended them because their reputation gets damaged. So,
26:09what will you tell those restaurant owners who say that because of Mr. Munde, we are going to lose
26:13business, our reputation is getting damaged.
26:18So, there are two issues to it. One, I just gave you a data of 12,000 inspections,
26:24suspensions are only 600. And there are notices more than 5,000 improvement notices. So, look at the
26:31percentage you'll come to, around 50 percent inspections where around 50 percent establishment
26:36got notices. So, your answer lies in the data. So, the answer is that we are improving, giving the
26:43notices wherever they are needed. Right.
26:45And we are taking action with their cases where suspension is immediately needed, where it is
26:51directly affecting the public health because we have found the unsafe environment there where the
26:56food was prepared which is likely to affect adversely the public health. Then and there only we have
27:02gone forth with suspension that law is very clear about it. Law allows for designated officers to take
27:06this call. And that's where we have done that. That is first part. Secondly, we are not here to tarnish
27:11anybody's reputation. Here, we are here to look at whether public health is being compromised or not.
27:19If you're talking about reputation of one restaurant or employment of a restaurant or hotel or any other
27:24establishment for that matter. What about the consumers which are consuming, eating and getting
27:30ill or sick because of that? So, that is a prime concern for us. That is our objective. So, mission
27:36mode is not ultimate goal. Mission is to achieve the larger goal of public health as I told you. That's
27:42our mandate. That's what we are trying to do it. So, it's not about tarnishing any image, damaging any
27:49business they have to comply with. And if they are in this business, say for example, 50 years or 100
27:53years, there is more reason that just to be aware of this and comply with this. I take your point
27:59but
27:59what happens if they… It's not about how many years? Sir, I take your point Mr. Munde. I take your
28:04point but what if I'm a small street corner business selling vada pav or pav bhaji. I mean,
28:09Mumbai is known for its street corner food. I, as a consumer, I'm going knowing fully where I'm eating
28:14street corner food. Now, you're… Are you going to those street corner food joints and closing them
28:18down? People are going to lose employment. I think… So, it's not again losing employment. Please
28:27understand they are also registered with us. They are supposed to be registered with. They have to
28:30follow the regulations. And if you have seen, as you said, vada pav wala or some bhujiya wala or
28:37something else, they have also improved. Look at they are not using most of… I can say 100% but
28:42by and
28:42large, they are eating, providing the food, the vada pav in a food grade material, not in the newspaper.
28:51They are also cleaning it. Now, there are also many of them have stopped using reused oil which is
28:57prohibited. So, it's not something big or small. The rules are there and the rules are meant for both
29:03food business operator what they have to share and ultimately the objective is because you will get
29:07the business if people are healthy and they come to eat you. If people become sick,
29:12they are not going to come to you and that's not your objective or the government objective.
29:16Just a reference here, Rajdeep. There is a WHO report which is published just in June 2026,
29:22which states that there are more than 200 foodborne diseases. Out of these 200 and there is a
29:28causation, there is a huge data. I'll give the data of 2011. I remember 2011 data of the Ministry of
29:36Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, which says that because of the unsafe and substandard
29:42food which is consumed, GDP loss of one lakh plus crore rupees was lost. If you take the data of
29:52Maharashtra for the same year, more than 2000 crore GDP are lost because of this one foodborne
29:57diseases and thing. Are you not going to think about all these things? So, please understand,
30:02we are here to promote genuine businesses. And we have to understand health as an issue.
30:09I take your point. And we have to understand, last point I'm making.
30:11Yes. Just last one. Just a second. It's an important point. We have been speaking about
30:17availability of food and nutrition of food. That's important. That's essential. Today,
30:23we have to speak about food safety also equally important issue and that's what you are working on.
30:29So, I want two, therefore, in conclusion, simple answers. A lot of people are supporting you,
30:34celebrating you. Citizens are telling me whenever I go to Mumbai, Tukaram Munde is someone who is
30:40setting a real example of what one bureaucrat and his team can do. Two simple questions. You've had 25
30:45transfers over your career. And I met a minister here in Delhi who said, you know, this Tukaram Munde,
30:51he's a real troublemaker. He should be taught a lesson. Do you have a full support of the Maharashtra
30:57government of the Fatnam, his government of the BMC in what you are doing? Are they fully supporting
31:01you? Or are you worried that you will be transferred out soon?
31:08See, as Sardip, as I said, it's a prerogative of the government. Because of government support,
31:13I am posted here. Otherwise, I would not be posted here. It's the authority of the government,
31:17whether to post, where to post, when to post. So, that's not my jurisdiction. That's not my authority.
31:21So, this is a government which will take a call. And as I said earlier also, if I keep thinking
31:27about
31:27my posting, I'll not be able to work. I should be doing the job or role which is assigned to
31:31me.
31:32That's what I'm trying to do. Right.
31:35My final question, everyone calling you the real-life Singham. Have you become a celebrity?
31:40And has that gone to your head in any way? Or you still see yourself as a bureaucrat enforcing the
31:45law?
31:45Absolutely not. Not gone to your head? I have objection to this bureaucrat. I am a public servant
31:52or a civil servant. It will not go. It will basically, I am here right now working as a
31:56FDI commissioner, as a public servant. I'll keep doing as long as I'm a public servant.
32:01Okay. I'm going to leave it there. Tukaram Munde, you've come and spoken to us. We'll keep coming
32:06back to you. Because what you are doing could well trigger off some kind of a revolution in this
32:10country when it comes to food regulation, food safety, and of course, pharmaceuticals as well,
32:16which is an area, and drugs which doesn't often get enough attention. But for joining me today,
32:21100 days done, and you've done quite a bit. Thank you very much. And I speak, I think,
32:27on behalf of many Mumbai citizens and those of India for setting a fine example of what a public
32:33servant can truly achieve if he has a mission mode. Thank you for joining me.
32:45Okay. Let's turn from the story of Tukaram Munde and what he's doing in Mumbai to the national
32:51capital where the Delhi government and the metropolitan corporation of Delhi finally swung
32:57into action following the tragic PG building collapse in Satya Niketan that claimed seven
33:03lives, including that of many young students. The authorities have now begun carrying out
33:07demolition drives in several areas of the national capital. The Rekha Gupta government has also
33:13announced a slew of curbs now on PG operators, those who take rental accommodation. The measures
33:21include rent caps for all PG's, mandatory PG registration, and mandatory CCTV cameras. The
33:28question is, did it require a tragedy for the government to wake up? That's the question I'll
33:33raise. But first, take a look at this report.
33:41A building collapse in the heart of the national capital claimed seven lives, including five students.
33:51Forcing authorities to wake up from their slumber and take action.
33:56Soon after the tragedy, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced that buildings violating norms would
34:02not be spared. And action has now begun.
34:07The building adjacent to the one that collapsed in Satya Niketan was marked unsafe and is now being demolished.
34:15The top floor of this Kanaklata PG is being hammered by the MCD workers. It's a planned phase-wise
34:23demolition drive that's being carried out in Satya Niketan. You can see how the electric
34:29grillers are being used by these MCD workers to deal with the concrete structures.
34:36In Uttam Nagar, action was taken against unauthorized construction.
35:04In Pandavnagar, action was taken against an illegal residential building.
35:12The building was built in a little bit of a height. I believe it. But in this building,
35:20there are some MCD workers' hands. The MCD means that it's just to eat meat.
35:25And you have to go and see the entire area of this area. I'm going to take you now.
35:42In Nehru Vihar, the MCD was forced to take action against a tilted building
35:47after India Today highlighted the issue.
35:52A reportage forced the authorities to act.
35:57Meanwhile, two more accused have been nabbed by the police.
36:00PG operator Sudhanshu and labour contractor Sanoj have been arrested,
36:05while PG operator Shubham Tyagi remains at large.
36:11A total of five people have been arrested in the case so far,
36:14including building owner Hariram Gupta, his wife Urmila Gupta and their son Mahesh Gupta.
36:21The Rekha Gupta government has also announced a slew of curbs on PG operators.
36:26The measures include rent caps for all PG's, mandatory PG registration, area-wise rent bans,
36:35a maximum security deposit of three months' rent, mandatory CCTV cameras and night guards for PG's housing more than 15
36:43students.
36:47Amid the actions, one big question.
36:49Why did it take deaths of students for Delhi government to act?
36:53With Shivani Sharma, Piyush Mishra, Amit Bharadwaj, Shishant Mehra and Harshit Mishra, Bureau Report, India Today.
37:05So let's raise some big questions.
37:07The Delhi demolitions, is it too little, too late?
37:10Why wait for tragedies to act?
37:13Demolitions and exercise in tokenism?
37:15Who will crack down on the corruption at the municipal level?
37:18Joining me now, Jagdish Mamgen is a former MCD chairman and an ex-chairman of the VC selection committee at
37:24Kota University.
37:25Ellen Rao, former DCP Delhi, joins me.
37:28And Shridhar Pabhisetti, urban governance and public policy expert.
37:32Good to have all of you on the show.
37:34Mr. Mamgen, I must come to you first.
37:36Because at the end of the day, the buck surely at some level stops with MCD.
37:40At least as you saw in the story, everyone blames the MCD.
37:43Saying, bribe lete hai, allow these permissions to go on.
37:46And even the governments will hold MCD accountable, even though they should be reporting to the government of the day.
37:52Is MCD the real villain or the soft target?
37:58Actually, in this case, there are more than one villain.
38:02The illegal construction for that MCD is villain, definitely.
38:07But the non-availability of PGs, non-availability of hostels in Delhi University colleges, for that Delhi University is also
38:18a villain.
38:20But nobody is talking about Delhi University or nobody is talking about the colleges who has not made the hostel
38:26so that children are forced to get these PGs and looted from...
38:33No, I take your point. Sir, I take your point.
38:36The huge mismatch. In fact, the figures are shocking.
38:39Barely 2.77% of the total population of the Delhi University students actually get accommodation from the colleges.
38:47That's just 2.77%.
38:49But the MCD itself, let's talk about that villain.
38:53Today, suddenly buildings are... Illegal buildings are being demolished.
38:56Did it take a tragedy for them to wake up?
38:59And now Rekha Gupta is there, going from place to place.
39:03She and her government, everyone knows that there is a Neta-Babu-Contractor nexus.
39:08This should have been broken before.
39:09Who... Where is the system failing, sir?
39:13Rajdeep Ji, it's just I watched.
39:16You must remember that when Malvenagar fire incident happened, then also Rekha Gupta government said ki, we will crack down
39:26on ground plus four.
39:28What happened?
39:30In Haas Rani, there are many buildings which are five floors, six floors.
39:36Anyone is cracked down.
39:38And after Saadullah job also, they said ki, we will crack down.
39:43And after this, now Satya Rikha Tan also, they are saying we will crack down.
39:49First of all is that Delhi government has nothing to do with it.
39:53It is MCD to do with it.
39:54And MCD comes under Union Home Ministry.
39:56It doesn't come under Delhi government.
39:59They are just playing with the sentiments of the people.
40:04So, we are suspending five officers.
40:08Chief Minister can suspend even a peon.
40:11Delhi Chief Minister has the right to suspend a peon.
40:15It is MCD Commissioner or LG or Home Ministry that can suspend any officer of the MCD.
40:22So, this is just an eyewash and it is a political gimmick.
40:28I am glad that there is someone.
40:30I am glad you are speaking.
40:34So, Delhi, they are announcing something and this about PG rules.
40:39Yesterday, High Court has directed them to make a regulation for the PG.
40:44It is not their choice.
40:46It is not their opinion.
40:48It is High Court has directed MCD and Delhi government and DDA to make a regulation for the PG's.
40:55Okay, I take your point, sir.
40:56You are making some very strong points.
40:58And I am glad that someone is speaking so plainly about it.
41:02Whether the MCD is accountable, as you say, they are accountable to the Home Ministry, the LG,
41:06and not to the Delhi government per se.
41:09Okay, the truth of the matter, Ellen Rao, you are a former DCP Delhi.
41:13Why does it take debt to trigger enforcement?
41:16Delhi has recorded roughly 169 deaths, sir, from building collapse incidents between 2020 and 2024,
41:25according to NCRB linked data.
41:28Did it take this tragedy for the system to wake up?
41:32The police officers in the local areas will also know whether there is a building being built illegally.
41:37Why don't they act?
41:40Good evening, Rajiv, and to all your viewers, my co-panelists.
41:46And really, the data which has been given by you is shocking data, causing death of so many persons,
41:53people in building collapse.
41:55And the main reason is that we have the tendency of forgetting all these things.
42:00We recently got to know about the fire incident of Malyunagar, and the students in the Rajindanagar,
42:09old Rajindanagar, when the basement was flooded with water during rainy season.
42:13And so on, so many other incidents are there, no doubt.
42:16But every time there is an inquiry commission is there, no doubt.
42:20And then the inquiry commission suggests some remedies for the things that should not happen in the future.
42:26But still it's going on.
42:27I don't think that there is not a...
42:30So, what's the role of the police here?
42:32What's the role of the police?
42:33The local thana.
42:34Soly must be knowing.
42:36Rajiv, I'm coming to that also.
42:38But let me make the background of it.
42:40No doubt that these irregularities are to be checked mainly by the MCD,
42:46and because that comes under the building department of MCD.
42:51But nevertheless, the police is also having some responsibility to inform the MCD
42:56about such illegal activities.
42:58There are circular by the commission of police that police will not interfere in the illegal construction in their area.
43:05But at the same time, they have been instructed to inform the concerned department,
43:09to inform the MCD about such irregularities.
43:12But if the police have done in that, they have done their duty by informing that concerned MCD officials
43:20that such and such building is being constructed without any building bylaws,
43:26violating the building bylaws without any sanction of the building plan,
43:30that is important.
43:32In this case, I think the police is investigating whether that information was provided to the MCD or not.
43:39If it was not provided, then definitely police is also responsible for this.
43:43Definitely.
43:44Sir, I take your point again.
43:46You see, the problem is we all, it's after the event that we realize where the system,
43:52you know, everyone sort of passes the buck.
43:54It's a famous Indian sport, if I may call it unfortunate.
43:58Shridhar Pabhisetti, you tell us.
44:01Is there a solution?
44:03Yes.
44:04We all know the problem.
44:05Give me a solution.
44:07Is demolishing five buildings today actually only an exercise in tokenism?
44:12Yeah, I mean, it's not only five buildings who are life-threatening in the city of Delhi.
44:17There could be 500, there could be 5,000, there could be 50,000.
44:21I was on another panel discussion yesterday and one gentleman said,
44:25one in five buildings in Delhi are unsafe.
44:28Right?
44:29So it's important for us to now begin the journey of first classifying safe and unsafe buildings.
44:37Then we can go on to the journey of illegal and legal buildings.
44:41Right?
44:42The legal and illegal buildings is for the government of the day to put the laws together.
44:47But safe and unsafe is not something that we have the luxury to wait.
44:50This is something that has to be taken upon a war footing.
44:53I remember in Bengaluru, when there was a very efficient special commissioner,
44:59he ended up giving the urban property records, 1 lakh records in every month
45:07for a continuous series of months back to back.
45:10So we have technology that today enables us to visualize our cities through satellites,
45:16through other drones and other things.
45:18Now with this, can't we designate and identify the unsafe buildings
45:25by bringing together knowledge across departments?
45:28The fire safety is the one which will definitely know any buildings
45:33that are more than five storeys high,
45:36which does not have enough area for the fire engine to go inside,
45:41and which can be dangerous in case of a fire accident.
45:45The public works department and the sewage department
45:50knows the flood-prone areas of Delhi.
45:53So it's a recurrence of these series of things,
45:57building collapses, fire, and even flooding.
46:01All these three things can be prevented only when you create a database
46:05of all the buildings and classify them into safe-unsafe.
46:09And every single day from now on,
46:12we should go after and reduce these unsafe buildings.
46:16We should give them a way of people to move to temporary transit housing.
46:21We should make sure that their dignity is maintained
46:24while this process is taken care of.
46:26Maybe what we need is, like my first guest today,
46:30was the FDA Commissioner of Mumbai.
46:31He has put fear and ensuring compliance as a result.
46:35Maybe you need a strong man at the top
46:37who will take on the politicians,
46:39who will question the MCD officials,
46:42who will also be able to control what's happening on the ground.
46:47This Neta-Babu-contractor nexus needs to be broken.
46:51And yes, the university also needs to get its act together.
46:55But you need people who are strong with a spine at the top.
46:58We are seeing it happening with the FDA Commissioner in Mumbai.
47:01Maybe Delhi also needs someone like that.
47:03I appreciate my guests joining me on my other talking point tonight.
47:07Thank you all very much.