Maharashtra FDA raids: MCA BKC food licence suspended; shuts restaurants until further notice

The FDA indicated that details of the inspection at the MCA would be shared with the media on Monday. File pic

Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) plush BKC facility may continue to serve up sport, but its food and beverage services were forced off the menu after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended its food business licence on Saturday.

While reputed media reported the development on Saturday, a mid-day check with the MCA facility later in the day revealed another interesting detail - the club had no concerned official available to explain the FDA action.

When we contacted the MCA BKC facility and sought a response about the FDA inspection and subsequent action, the person answering the call said, "If you already know about the inspection, then it's okay." The caller was subsequently told that no concerned person was available as all officials had left for the day.

The FDA, meanwhile, indicated that details of the action would be shared with the media on Monday.

The development comes amid an increasingly aggressive food-safety crackdown in Mumbai under FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. In recent days, the regulator has taken action against several prominent clubs, restaurants and food establishments over alleged hygiene and food-safety violations.

The MCA facility itself informed its members that all food and beverage services and restaurants would remain closed with immediate effect until further notice, citing "technical issues".

However, the club said its sports facilities - including the gymnasium, swimming pool, lawn tennis, squash, pickleball, badminton, table tennis, pool and billiards - would continue to operate.

The FDA action at MCA follows Friday's suspension of the food business licence of the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and the registration certificate of Khar Gymkhana, besides action against the McDonald's outlet in Colaba after officials allegedly found a live cockroach infestation in its kitchen.

For MCA members, however, the immediate question is not about the tennis court or swimming pool - it is about what happened inside the kitchens that prompted the regulator to pull the plug on the club's food operations.

With the FDA set to disclose the inspection findings on Monday, the details of what exactly went wrong at one of Mumbai's prominent sporting establishments could make for an uncomfortable start to the week.