Shinde Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad Booked For Assaulting Canteen Worker Over Stale Food

The Shiv Sena MLA has refused to apologise for assaulting the canteen worker, claiming that he had been repeatedly complaining over its quality, but no action was being taken.

Mumbai Police has initiated legal action against Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad for assaulting a hostel canteen worker at the Akashwani MLA residence in Mumbai. The process to file a non-cognisable offence against him is underway at the Marine Drive police station.

The assault incident took place on Tuesday night, triggering a row, as the two-time Buldhana MLA refused to apologise or express regret over the assault. He instead maintained that he would repeat his actions if needed.

The incident was brought to light after a viral video of the assault surfaced, showing Gaikwad slapping the canteen worker, claiming that he was served stale food.

Reacting to the alleged assault, Sanjay Gaikwad asserted: "I will not apologise. Whatever the CM and Deputy CM said is their duty. I respect their words, but they also said that there should be an inquiry into the hotel. I have no regrets.

I was about to consume poison; others cannot understand this, so I have no regrets for what I did."

The Shiv Sena MLA claimed that he had been coming to the Akashwani canteen for 30 years and that he had repeatedly requested that they serve good food. "Eggs 15 days old, non-veg 15-20 days old, vegetables 2-4 days old. Nearly 5,000-10,000 people eat here, and everyone has the same complaint," he said.

He even claimed that some other customer had complained of finding a lizard in their food, while another found a rat or a rope. 

"I ordered food at 10 PM yesterday, and after having the first bite, I felt there was something wrong... After smelling it, I found it was stale food. I went down and asked the manager who made it. I made everyone smell the food, and all of them found it stale," he said.

Requesting an action against the canteen, the Shiv Sena MLA added: "I explained to them again that they should make clean and good food, eating poison-like food is a health hazard... If they do not still listen, then I have my own way of making them understand."

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that there was no need to file any complaint or to take action against Sanjay Gaikwad. However, he said police should inquire into the matter.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray commented on the incident on Friday, asking whether Gaikwad was intoxicated at the time of assaulting the worker. "Was he so intoxicated that he could not recognise who was in front of him? It should be probed."