FDA suspends licences of Hotel Vaishali and Rupali Restaurant on Pune's FC Road over hygiene lapses

The Pune division of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken strict action against two well-known establishments on Fergusson College (FC) Road in Shivajinagar. The food business licences of M/s Hotel Vaishali and M/s Rupali Restaurant have been suspended with immediate effect. According to the administration, inspections found serious violations of the Food Safety and Standards law. The action was taken under the "Safe Food Safe Maharashtra" campaign.

Food Safety Officer Ajinkya Subhash Umap inspected Vaishali on November 13, 2026. The establishment scored only 58 out of 98, and the result was recorded as "Non-Compliance".

The administration listed several lapses at Vaishali. The kitchen had very little space. The freezer for raw material was right next to the women's toilet, while the griddle for making dosa and uttapam was placed near the men's toilet. Washed utensils were found on a table in front of the toilet.

Boiled potatoes, cooked rice and other prepared food items were kept in an open corridor. Idli and dosa batter was also being prepared in an open, unprotected area. Cut raw vegetables were placed directly over cooked food, which was flagged as a risk of cross-contamination.

The kitchen also had no pest-proof doors. Temperature records and a recent test report for drinking water were not available. No valid supervisor trained under FoSTaC was present during the inspection.

The administration said an inspection in June 2026 had resulted in a notice to improve, but serious lapses were found again. For this reason, Assistant Commissioner (Food) Syed Imran Hashmi ordered the licence (No. 11524035000395) to be suspended immediately.

Food Safety Officer A. D. Zhanjurne inspected Rupali Restaurant on November 13, 2026. After a hearing, the licence suspension order was issued the same day.

At Rupali, the kitchen was open and unprotected, so there was a risk of dust, dirt and pests getting in. Water had collected on the premises, cleanliness was poor and waste management was inadequate. Raw material, semi-prepared and prepared food were kept without proper covering. They also carried no labels or "Use By" dates.

Raw and cooked food were not kept separate. There were no temperature control records. Records of the FSMS plan, SOPs and FoSTaC training were also not found.

The action was taken under the guidance of Joint Commissioner Shrikant R. Karkale and on the order of the designated officer and Assistant Commissioner (Food) Syed Imran Hashmi. Until both establishments fully remedy all serious lapses, pass a fresh inspection against food safety standards and receive written permission from the department, they are strictly barred from any food business, including sales, parcels or home delivery.