Eknath Shinde Seeks MCOCA Action Against Milk and Paneer Adulterators

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed authorities on Monday to take stringent action under organised crime laws against individuals involved in adulterating milk, paneer, and other food products. Speaking during a meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai, Shinde instructed officials to explore invoking the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against food adulterators to create a strong deterrent.

The directions were issued during a review meeting assessing the work and future targets of the state Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The meeting evaluated the agency's performance and goals under the Viksit Maharashtra 2047 initiative for the 2026–27 financial period.

According to an official statement, Shinde emphasized that offences involving food adulteration pose a serious threat to public health. By bringing adulterators under the ambit of organised crime legislation, the state aims to enforce strict legal measures against networks compromising food safety.

The review at Sahyadri Guest House focused on strengthening FDA enforcement mechanisms as part of the broader Viksit Maharashtra 2047 initiative.