'Old Monk Ban Costs Maharashtra ₹350 Crore in Excise Revenue': Manufacturer Tells Bombay HC
Mumbai, October 13, 2026: The ban on the sale of Old Monk rum from a manufacturing unit in Thane district has cost the Maharashtra government around Rs 350 crore in excise revenue, the liquor maker has told the Bombay High Court. The manufacturer, Mohan Rocky Springwater Pvt. Ltd., said the restrictions had also caused losses of more than Rs 500 crore to the company. Manufacturer Challenges FSSAI…
The ban on the sale of Old Monk rum in Maharashtra has resulted in a loss of approximately Rs 350 crore in excise revenue for the state government, according to the liquor manufacturer. The manufacturer, Mohan Rocky Springwater Pvt. Ltd., has also reported losses of over Rs 500 crore due to the restrictions. The dispute centers on the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) prohibiting the use of added rum flavouring in spirits marketed as 'rum,' arguing that this can mislead consumers about the product's composition.
The manufacturer challenges this decision, stating that other manufacturers follow similar processes without facing similar restrictions and questioning the authority of the FSSAI officer to issue the prohibition orders, citing that Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act does not independently empower the officer to prohibit the manufacture and sale of products. The matter is set to be heard by the Bombay High Court on October 23.
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