Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe acknowledged that he has often been called “arrogant” or accused of not listening to others.
Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that he does not believe anyone would dare attempt to bribe him, adding that anyone considering such a move should “think 100 times”. Tukaram Mundhe made the remarks during a round-table interview with NDTV Profit, where he was asked whether anyone had tried to bribe him amid his ongoing crackdown on food safety violations across Maharashtra.
“I don’t think anyone would dare with me,” Tukaram Mundhe said, adding, “If somebody is thinking of that, they’d better think 100 times.”
Tukaram Mundhe’s enforcement drives drew widespread appreciation from citizens, with the bureaucrat receiving growing public attention for taking action against food businesses found violating safety norms.
Asked about his reputation for being tough, Tukaram Mundhe acknowledged that he has often been called “arrogant” or accused of not listening to others.
“Many people call me arrogant, not because I am arrogant but because I am forthright. There is a very, very thin line between being forthright and being arrogant,” he said.
Tukaram Mundhe said his approach was based on being honest and transparent about the responsibilities attached to his role.
“Are we honest and transparent about what we are expected to do and what we have done? If it succeeds, nothing like it. If not, at least I have tried,” he said.
Despite being described as an inspiration by many, Tukaram Mundhe said he did not consider his actions extraordinary.
“I don’t think it is really inspirational or that I have done something extraordinary. I believe that I am just trying to do what is expected of my role, nothing less than that, nothing more than that,” he said.
