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

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 administration said the action was taken under the "Safe Food Safe Maharashtra" special drive. For the past few months, the FDA has been acting against large and well-known hotels in several cities of the state, including Mumbai and Pune. Both licences were suspended under this drive in the interest of public health.

Food Safety Officer Ajinkya Subhash Umap inspected Hotel Vaishali on November 13, 2026. The establishment scored only 58 out of 98 points, and the result was recorded as "Non-Compliance". According to the administration, because of the lack of space in the kitchen, the freezers used to store raw material were next to the women's toilet. The griddle used to make dosa and uttapa was kept right next to the men's toilet. Washed utensils were found on a table in front of a toilet.

The administration also said that boiled potatoes, cooked rice and other ready-to-eat items were kept in an open corridor. Idli and dosa batter was also being prepared in an open and unsafe place. Cut raw vegetables had been placed directly over ready-to-eat food.

The kitchen had no pest-proof doors. Temperature records and a recent drinking water test report were also not found. No supervisor with valid FoSTaC training was present at the time of the inspection. According to the administration, an inspection in June 2026 had resulted in an improvement notice, yet serious deficiencies were found again. Assistant Commissioner (Food) Syed Imran Hashmi then ordered the licence to be suspended immediately.

Food Safety Officer A. D. Zanjurne inspected Rupali Restaurant on November 13, 2026. After a hearing, the licence suspension order was issued the same day. According to the administration, the kitchen was open and unsafe, posing a risk of dust, dirt and pests getting in. Water was found stagnant on the premises, cleanliness was poor and waste disposal arrangements were inadequate.

Raw material, partly cooked food and ready-to-eat food were not properly covered. They also carried no labels or "Use By" dates. Raw and ready-to-eat food were not kept separately, there were no temperature control records, and no records of an FSMS plan, SOPs or FoSTaC training were found.

The action was taken under the guidance of Joint Commissioner Shrikant R. Karkale and on the orders of the Designated Officer and Assistant Commissioner (Food) Syed Imran Hashmi. Until both establishments fully remove all serious deficiencies, pass a fresh inspection against food safety standards and receive written permission from the department, they are strictly barred from any kind of food business. This covers dine-in sales, parcels and home delivery.