IAS officer Tukaram Munde is Maha FDA chief: His 25th transfer in 21-year career

Chaitanya.Marpakwar

Mumbai: IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe was on Tuesday appointed commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is his 25th transfer in a 21-year career and his second in less than two months. In April, the 2005-batch IAS officer was transferred as secretary of the disability welfare department and was appointed principal secretary in the disaster management, relief and rehabilitation department led by minister Girish Mahajan. However, before Mundhe could take charge, his transfer was stayed, and Mundhe was left without a posting for around a month.

According to an official order, Kanhuraj Bagate was appointed as the MD of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), a post that senior IAS officer Ashwin Bhide held before her appointment as the Mumbai municipal commissioner.

Current FDA commissioner Shridhar Dube was shifted as the CEO of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Slum Rehabilitation Authority. . Dube was posted as FDA commissioner in Feb this year. Dube was Managing Director of Maharashtra State Co-operative Marketing Federation. Dube replaced Rajesh Narvekar, an IAS officer of the 2009 batch.

Dube is an IAS officer of the 2014 batch and was FDA commissioner but Mundhe is from the 2005 batch. Officials said the posting is seen as a setback given Mundhe’s seniority.

R S Chavan was appointed as the MD of Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceutical Corporation.

Additional chief secretary (tourism) Sanjay Khandare has been given additional charge as ACS FDA replacing IAS officer Dhiraj Kumar.

Mundhe is widely recognised for his unyielding stance against corruption, fierce discipline, and strict adherence to rules. Often hailed as the “Singham” of the state’s bureaucracy.