Mumbai, July 12: Mumbai Police on Friday initiated proceedings to register a case against Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Gaikwad after a video surfaced showing him allegedly assaulting a staff member at the Maharashtra legislature canteen, triggering political outrage across party lines.
The Marine Drive police station took suo motu cognisance of the incident after the video went viral on social media. In the footage, Gaikwad is seen slapping and punching a canteen contractor, reportedly over dissatisfaction with the quality of food served. He is also seen forcing others, including the contractor, to smell a packet of dal.
The episode drew condemnation from both the ruling government and opposition leaders, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis saying such behaviour sends a “wrong message” about elected representatives misusing power. Fadnavis directed the police to begin an investigation without waiting for a formal complaint.
“There is no need to wait for a complaint. The video is evidence enough for police to act,” Fadnavis said.
Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde also criticised Gaikwad, stating that the MLA’s conduct was inappropriate. “I told him he should have followed legal means, such as filing a complaint. What he did was wrong and cannot be justified, even if he was expressing frustration over the food quality,” Shinde said.
Earlier, Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam had said that police action could not be taken in the absence of a complaint. However, the state government later clarified that a probe was underway.
Amid the controversy, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the licence of the caterer operating the legislature’s canteen. The FDA said an inspection found multiple violations of food safety norms at the facility. The incident has reignited debate over the conduct of public officials and the use of violence in response to service grievances, with critics calling for stronger accountability measures for lawmakers.
