Bombay High Court Takes ‘Non-Vegetarian Tea’ Jibe at Mumbai Cricket Association Over Cockroach-Infested Kitchens

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, delivered a sharp rebuke to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) over deplorable hygiene conditions at its Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) premises, humorously questioning if cricketers were consuming 'non-vegetarian tea' amidst reports of cockroach and fly infestations. The court's remarks came during a hearing challenging the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) suspension of licenses for five MCA-run eateries. Bombay High Court Orders Fresh FDA Inspection of MCA Outlets in BKC.

A bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad was hearing petitions filed by the MCA against the FDA's decision to suspend the licenses, which was implemented on Friday, August 21, 2026. The FDA's action followed a thorough inspection on Thursday, August 20, 2026, which uncovered serious food safety and hygiene violations, including kitchens infested with cockroaches and flies, along with dirty and slippery floors.

Court's 'Non-Vegetarian Tea' Jibe

The gravity of the hygiene breaches prompted a light-hearted yet pointed observation from Acting Chief Justice Ghuge. When Senior Counsel Vikram Nankani, representing the MCA, submitted that the closure of the eateries meant even tea could not be served to cricketers, the Chief Justice quipped, "There are flies and cockroaches in the restaurants' kitchens. It is non-vegetarian tea. Do they (cricketers) know they are consuming this tea?" The court's remark underscored the severity of the unhygienic conditions found at the prestigious cricket body's food outlets.

FDA's Findings and MCA's Response

The FDA's inspection report highlighted "gross violations" of hygiene standards. These included extensive cockroach and fly infestations in the kitchens, along with unsanitary and slippery floor conditions. The MCA had argued that the FDA should have issued an improvement notice before suspending the licenses, allowing time for rectification. However, the bench asserted that such a notice was not necessary in cases involving blatant and severe violations.

It was also brought to the court's attention that while the licenses were issued in the MCA's name, the eateries were allegedly being operated by M/s Shirke Infrastructure, raising questions about licensing discrepancies. FDA Suspends 5 Mumbai Cricket Association Restaurant Licences, Action Also Taken at CCI.

Directives and Upcoming Inspection

In response to the alarming findings, the Bombay High Court has issued several directives:

Fresh FDA Inspection: The court has ordered the Maharashtra FDA to conduct a fresh inspection of the five MCA eateries at the Bandra Kurla Complex on Thursday, August 27, 2026, between 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM IST.

Mandatory Cleaning: The MCA has been directed to thoroughly clean the premises before the FDA team carries out this fresh inspection.

Tea/Coffee Vending Machines: The court has permitted the MCA to install automated tea and coffee vending machines to cater to players and guests in the interim, given the closure of the regular eateries.

Contract Review: The FDA has also been directed to review the contract between the MCA and M/s Shirke Infrastructure concerning the operation of these eateries.

The court will reconvene on Saturday, August 29, 2026, to review the reports from the fresh inspection and further deliberate on the matter. The episode serves as a stern reminder of the critical importance of maintaining stringent hygiene standards, even for esteemed sporting institutions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2026 10:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).