Old Monk Still Banned in Maharashtra: Bombay High Court Refuses to Lift Sales Restriction

If you have been looking for Old Monk rum in Maharashtra and finding empty shelves — that situation is not changing yet. The Bombay High Court has refused to grant immediate interim relief to Mohan Rocky Springwater, the manufacturer of Old Monk, against the FSSAI order prohibiting the sale of the popular rum in Maharashtra. As a result, Old Monk remains off the shelves across the state — including Nagpur — while the broader dispute is heard.

The case was heard by a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V. Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad. Furthermore, the court’s observations during the hearing were sharp, pointed and — in at least one moment — genuinely witty. The next hearing is scheduled for September 11, 2026.

What Exactly Is the Dispute — The Core Issue

This is not just a labelling controversy. Furthermore, FSSAI’s objection goes to the very heart of what Old Monk actually is.

FSSAI has told the Bombay High Court that Old Monk cannot be marketed or sold as “rum” in its current form. Moreover, the regulator argues that the product is made using neutral spirit blended with rum flavouring — not through the traditional process of fermenting molasses and distilling the result. As a result, FSSAI says Old Monk should be sold under the description “rum-flavoured spirit” — not simply “rum.”

This is a critical distinction. Furthermore, genuine rum derives its taste and aroma naturally from sugarcane fermentation and distillation, followed by ageing. The Additional Solicitor General argued exactly this point before the court — that marketing a product as rum when neutral spirits form the bulk of its composition misleads consumers.

Mohan Rocky Springwater disputes this characterisation. Moreover, the company’s senior counsel Seervai argued that FSSAI regulations permit approved flavouring substances in neutral spirits and that all ingredients are disclosed on the packaging. He also alleged that Old Monk is being selectively targeted. As a result, the legal battle is being fought on two fronts — what the product is, and whether Old Monk is being singled out unfairly.

What the Court Said About the Bottle — The Magnifying Glass Moment

The hearing produced some of the most memorable judicial observations in recent Indian food law proceedings. Furthermore, the court did not hold back its views on Old Monk’s packaging.

The bench examined the bottle packaging directly and took sharp exception to two specific descriptors. The phrases “7 years old blended” and “very old vatted” on the Old Monk label drew the court’s concern. Moreover, the bench questioned whether these descriptions could lead an ordinary consumer to believe that the entire spirit in the bottle had been aged for seven years.

Acting Chief Justice Ghuge then made a remark that has since gone viral in legal and consumer circles. After examining the product packaging looking for information about added flavourings, he said — “I used my magnifying glass. I could not find it.” Furthermore, the court observed that the disclosure of added flavourings on Old Monk’s packaging was effectively unreadable for a normal consumer.

The bench then made a broader observation about consumer education that cuts to the heart of food labelling policy in India. “How we wish every citizen of this country was so educated to understand all this!” the court remarked. As a result, the court made clear that technical regulatory compliance — disclosure in fine print that even a judge with a magnifying glass cannot find — does not constitute genuine transparency for the ordinary consumer.

What Old Monk’s Maker Agreed to Do

The manufacturer agreed to two significant changes to its packaging in an attempt to break the impasse and resume sales. Furthermore, these concessions came directly in response to the court’s observations.

First, Mohan Rocky Springwater agreed to delete the “7 years old blended” descriptor entirely from Old Monk’s packaging. This removes the specific claim that the court found most potentially misleading for consumers. Moreover, removing this claim represents a significant change to a label that has been part of Old Monk’s identity for decades.

Second, the company agreed to display “added flavor” prominently on its bottle labels — rather than in the fine print that even the Acting Chief Justice could not find with a magnifying glass. Furthermore, this change directly addresses the court’s concern about consumer transparency.

However, these proposed changes have not resulted in an immediate lifting of the sales restriction. The court directed Mohan Rocky Springwater to submit a fresh, digitally printed draft label for judicial review at the next hearing. Moreover, the court has declined to provide any interim relief until it examines the revised labels and hears FSSAI’s response.

The Court’s Verdict — Neither Fully Right Nor Fully Wrong

The court’s overall assessment of the case, as expressed in its interim observations, was balanced but firm. Furthermore, the bench did not find the manufacturer entirely without merit. However, it also found that Old Monk’s labelling falls short on consumer transparency in specific ways.

“Our prima facie view is that on some counts you are right and on some counts you are at fault. So in this situation we can’t grant you a final relief,” the bench said. As a result, the court declined to grant interim relief — reasoning that allowing sales to resume at this stage would effectively amount to granting final relief before the case is properly decided.

This is a significant legal position. Furthermore, it means that Old Monk’s Maharashtra ban continues not because the court has found the manufacturer guilty of wrongdoing — but because the legal questions involved are complex enough that they need to be fully heard before any relief is granted.

When Will Old Monk Return to Maharashtra?

The next hearing is scheduled for September 11, 2026. Furthermore, this is when the revised label draft submitted by Mohan Rocky Springwater will be examined by the court. Moreover, FSSAI will also present its response to the proposed label changes.

If the court is satisfied with the revised labels and if FSSAI’s regulatory concerns are addressed, there is a possibility that Old Monk could resume sales in Maharashtra in a modified form. However, this is not guaranteed. Furthermore, FSSAI’s core objection — that Old Monk should be described as a “rum-flavoured spirit” rather than rum — goes beyond labelling and touches the product’s fundamental identity.

If FSSAI maintains this objection and the court finds it has merit, the situation could require a more fundamental change to how Old Monk is marketed and sold — not just a label redesign. As a result, the September 11 hearing is critical. Nagpur Updates will report on the outcome immediately.

What This Means for Nagpur Consumers and Retailers

For Nagpur residents who enjoy Old Monk, the situation remains unchanged from the FSSAI ban we reported on earlier. The Maharashtra sales restriction remains in effect. Furthermore, retailers across Nagpur who have Old Monk stock are not permitted to sell it.

However, the court proceedings provide important context. Furthermore, the manufacturer is actively fighting the ban and has made concrete concessions on labelling. As a result, a resolution — in some form — appears more likely than a permanent ban.

The September 11 hearing will be the first real indication of whether a path to resuming sales in Maharashtra exists. Nagpur Updates will report on that hearing and its outcome as soon as information is available.