Mahalaxmi’s Gallops Restaurant Among 5 Establishments To Lose Licence in Maharashtra FDA Crackdown (Pics)
Mahalaxmi's Gallops restaurant and four other Mumbai establishments faced licence action in a crackdown led by Maharashtra FDA chief Tukaram Mundhe. Gallops was flagged for blood-stained ice, live cockroaches, and structural flaws. The drive also shut unlicensed eateries in Versova and Bandra, while seizing INR 15.15 lakh worth of counterfeit ghee in Malad East.
Mahalaxmi's iconic Gallops restaurant was among five food establishments that had their licences suspended or cancelled in the latest round of enforcement drives by the Tukaram Mundhe-led Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra, according to an official press note released on Tuesday, September 22. During an inspection at the heritage dining venue situated at the Royal Western India Turf Club, food safety officers uncovered severe sanitary lapses, including blood and ketchup stains from non-vegetarian items on ice stored inside its refrigerator, stagnant water, and active pest infestations.
The action forms part of an intensified festive season crackdown targeting safety breaches, food adulteration, and poor hygiene practices across dining outlets and processing units in the state. The regulator reported widespread non-compliance with statutory safety standards, issuing immediate suspension notices to businesses operating in direct contravention of basic hygiene mandates. Mumbai FDA Suspends Amazon Warehouse, Suleman Usman Mithaiwala Licence Over Hygiene Lapses.
Gallops Restaurant Among 5 Establishments To Lose Licence in FDA Crackdown
Gallops Restaurant at Mahalaxmi Racecourse, it is popular largely because of its location, heritage setting.
It operates within the Royal Western India Turf Club premises, giving diners a distinctive setting overlooking the racecourse. Gallops has been around for decades now. pic.twitter.com/zLCd8bNLXT
— Richa Pinto (@richapintoi) September 22, 2026
Severe Hygiene and Structural Violations at Gallops
Detailing the findings at the Mahalaxmi establishment, the FDA flagged multiple critical non-compliances under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations.
"Raw material in torn/damaged packaging, grease accumulation in the kitchen, deteriorated walls, inadequate covering of drainage and cockroach traps, presence of live cockroaches and ants, water stagnation, and lack of records of annual medical examination/vaccination of food handlers were among the numerous continuing violations found under ‘Schedule 4'," the press note said. Maharashtra FDA Suspends Nair Hospital Canteen Licence in Statewide Crackdown.
The enforcement body noted that the failure to maintain sanitary physical infrastructure and clean cold-storage environments poses severe health risks to consumers.
Actions Against Versova, Bandra, and Malad Eateries
The regulatory sweep also took strict action against four other establishments: Gufran Seekh Corner, Dreamer Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., Mirari, and Gurukrupa Dairy Products.
Gufran Seekh Corner in Versova was found to be operating entirely without a valid food licence or statutory registration. The authority noted that the outlet breached numerous provisions under Schedule 4, highlighting deficiencies in potable water testing, unhygienic storage and segregation of food supplies, lack of cleanliness, absent pest control protocols, and missing health and vaccination records for food handlers.
Similar non-compliances under Schedule 4 were identified during inspections of Dreamer Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. and Mirari in Bandra West, prompting regulatory penalties.
In a separate enforcement operation, the FDA raided the manufacturing unit of Gurukrupa Dairy Products in Malad (East), uncovering a widespread adulteration setup alongside severe pest infestations.
"During inspection, it was found that refined sunflower oil, vanaspati (hydrogenated fat) and branded ghee were being blended together in two special boilers to manufacture counterfeit white and yellow ghee, and that consumers were being misled through labelling in small print under the name “Pooja Ghee”. Infestation of rats and cockroaches was also found on the premises," it said.
Officials confiscated a massive stock of adulterated items and industrial machinery from the site. The FDA seized around 2,464.05 kg of adulterated and misleading ghee, refined sunflower oil, and vanaspati worth approximately INR 13.5 lakh, alongside two boiler machines and one khoya machine valued at approximately INR 1.6 lakh, aggregating to a total seizure worth roughly INR 15.15 lakh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 09:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
