Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad landed in controversy once again after a video surfaced showing him slapping a canteen employee at the MLA hostel in Mumbai. The incident occurred on Tuesday night at the Akashvani MLA hostel, allegedly over stale food served to the legislator.
In the viral video, Gaikwad is seen shouting at the canteen operator, refusing to pay the bill, and suddenly slapping a staff member seated at the billing counter. Witnesses claimed the Buldhana MLA was enraged after finding that the dal and rice served in his room were stale and had a foul odor.
मुंबईतील आमदार निवास कॅन्टीनमध्ये आमदार संजय गायकवाड एका गरीब कर्मचाऱ्याला निकृष्ट जेवणावरून मारहाण करताना दिसत आहेत. परंतु ते शिंदे गटातील नेते असल्यामुळे यावर कोणतीही गोदी मिडिया तासंतास डिबेट घेणार नाही, गरीबाला मारहाण झाली म्हणून मोर्चा काढणार नाही. याला “गुंडगिरी” असे १/२ pic.twitter.com/LRBl6Dv9be
— Ṅấṃɽấṱấ Ừỉќԑỵ『 नम्रता उईके 』 (@Namrata_Uikey_) July 9, 2025
“This is not the first time I’ve complained. The quality of food is repeatedly substandard. This time it was absolutely unacceptable, and I will raise this issue in the ongoing legislative session,” Gaikwad said in an interview with a regional news channel.
According to sources, Gaikwad, a legislator from the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stormed into the canteen and confronted the manager in a heated exchange before physically assaulting the staff.
This is not the first time the MLA has courted controversy. In September last year, Gaikwad made headlines for announcing a ₹11 lakh reward to anyone who would cut off Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s tongue for his remarks against the reservation system. The Buldhana police later registered a case against him for that statement.
The latest assault incident has triggered criticism from opposition leaders and citizens alike, many questioning the culture of entitlement and impunity among elected representatives.
