Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad from the faction of the Eknath Shinde group triggered widespread outrage after a video clip of him assaulting a canteen employee at the MLA Hostel in Mumbai became viral. The incident was reported on Tuesday night when Gaikwad allegedly got stale and stinking dal-rice served to him in his room.
Talking to PTI after the incident, Gaikwad defended the beating, saying that he did not regret it. “Food was stale,” he asserted, adding that he would bring up the matter in the current monsoon session of the Maharashtra Assembly.
“When a person does not speak the language of democracy, then I have to [use] this language alone,” he informed the news agency.
Caught on Camera: Assault and Abuse
The viral clip documents Gaikwad entering the canteen, insulting the operator, not paying the bill, and slapping a billing counter staffer. He pushed and shoved other staff members who were present at the spot as well. Gaikwad instructed others in the canteen not to pay for their food as well.
Shameful conduct by Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLA Sanjay Gaikwad assaulted poor canteen staff over bad food, when he could’ve raised the issue through proper channels…
Is this how a public representative is expected to behave?
Let’s see if Devendra Fadnavis dares to act, or stays… pic.twitter.com/YhVfShiffA— Archana Pawar 🇮🇳 (@SilentEyes0106) July 9, 2025
The MLA stated that he had submitted multiple complaints regarding food quality, but did not notice any improvement. “I did not beat him, checking if he is Marathi or Hindi-speaking. I had raised the issue with the concerned authorities on various occasions. I will say it again,” he said, making a distinction between his and MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) workers’ actions.
Violent History Resurfaces
This is not the first time Gaikwad has courted controversy. Political rivals, especially the Congress, quickly pointed out his previous inflammatory statements. Last year, he offered a ₹11 lakh reward for anyone who would cut off Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tongue over remarks related to reservation. A day later, he escalated his rhetoric by saying he would bury “Congress dogs”.
These recurring episodes of public violence have led to questions regarding the culture of impunity among elected officials. Opposition leaders are calling for accountability, and civil society voices are criticizing the escalation of violence in public life.
