Mumbai’s Akashvani MLA canteen in Churchgate became the stage for a dramatic altercation on July 9, 2025, when Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad reportedly assaulted canteen operator Yogesh Kutran after suspecting the dal served to him was “rotten”.
A viral video captures the tense scene: Gaikwad, dressed only in a towel, confronts staff, forces the dal packet under their noses, and then strikes Kutran—landing multiple slaps before delivering a punch that sends him reeling to the floor . Bystanders voice concern: “A person could die after eating this.”
Gaikwad, the Buldhana MLA, defended his actions to NDTV, claiming the food caused him intense stomach cramps and nausea shortly after consuming it. “I started feeling unwell…I did not even change; I went straight to the canteen…called the manager, and he said it was not fit to eat,” he said.
He also insisted the incident was part of his “Shiv Sena style” of activism and warned he was neither “a Gandhian” nor someone who shies away from physical confrontation. A self‑described “warrior” with training in judo, gymnastics, karate, and wrestling, Gaikwad added, “I have no regrets. I don’t think I have done anything wrong. I will raise this issue in the Assembly”.
Witnesses—including fellow canteen patrons and staff—agreed the food quality was lacking. However, they expressed disapproval of the MLA’s violent response, with some condemning the assault as uncalled for.
Gaikwad’s justification echoed a broader grievance: he claims repeated complaints about stale ingredients—particularly chicken and eggs—have gone unaddressed, putting public health at risk. “They are playing with the health of thousands of people every day,” he asserted.
The controversy spotlights two pressing issues: the standards of food served in government-run facilities and the accountability of public representatives. Critics argue that while food safety concerns are legitimate, assaulting staff and roughing them in public sets an alarming precedent.
Gaikwad is no stranger to controversy. In September 2024, he offered ₹11 lakh to anyone willing to “cut off Rahul Gandhi’s tongue”. Amidst the viral dal-scene fallout, political analysts are calling for a deeper probe into both the food services at state facilities and the conduct of its elected officials.
As the video continues to circulate, Maharashtra’s ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in intense debate. Calls for disciplinary action against Gaikwad may escalate once the Assembly session reopens. The MLA, however, remains unapologetic—ready to defend his actions as part of the “battlefield ethos” he claims to embody.
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