Ahmedabad fire officer sacked after ₹36,000 ACB bribe trap over fire NOCs
Synopsis
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation fired its Probationary Chief Fire Officer the same day the ACB caught his alleged middleman accepting ₹36,000 in bribes — ₹6,000 per NOC — for clearing fire safety certificates for six buildings. The case exposes how mandatory regulatory clearances can become corruption chokepoints in fast-growing cities.
Key Takeaways
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) terminated Amit Dongre , Probationary Chief Fire Officer , with immediate effect on 8 August .
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) trapped alleged middleman Bhavsinh Zala, 31 , who allegedly accepted ₹36,000 — ₹6,000 per NOC — for fire NOC approvals for six buildings .
During the trap, Zala allegedly spoke to Dongre, 47 , by phone; the ACB claims Dongre expressed consent over the bribe amount.
The trap was laid near Yash Equa Complex, Vijay Cross Roads, Memnagar , in the presence of two government panch witnesses.
The ACB has initiated legal proceedings against both Dongre and Zala; findings remain at the preliminary stage.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Saturday, 8 August terminated the appointment of Amit Dongre, who was serving as Probationary Chief Fire Officer in its Fire and Emergency Services Department, after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught an alleged middleman accepting a ₹36,000 bribe on his behalf for approving fire No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for six buildings in Ahmedabad. The AMC acted with immediate effect following the ACB trap conducted on Friday, which established, prima facie, Dongre's alleged involvement in the demand.
How the Bribe Trap Was Laid
According to the ACB, Dongre, 47, allegedly demanded ₹36,000 — working out to ₹6,000 per NOC — through a third person, Bhavsinh Zala, 31, in connection with fire NOC approvals for six separate buildings. The complainant, a Fire Safety Officer who provides fire safety services to buildings in Ahmedabad, had submitted the NOC applications through the state government's online portal before allegedly being approached for the payment.
After the bribe demand was made, the complainant approached the Vadodara City ACB Police Station. The ACB subsequently laid a trap in the presence of two government panch witnesses near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Ahmedabad.
The Catch and Dongre's Alleged Role
Zala allegedly held a 'purposeful conversation' with the complainant and accepted the ₹36,000, following which he was caught red-handed. The entire bribe amount was recovered, officials said. During the operation, Zala also spoke to Dongre over the telephone, and the ACB alleged that Dongre expressed his consent regarding the bribe amount during that call.
Based on preliminary findings, the bureau alleged that Zala had demanded and accepted the money at Dongre's instance, and that both had abetted each other in the alleged offence. The ACB has since initiated legal proceedings against both individuals.
AMC's Immediate Action
The civic body moved swiftly, terminating Dongre's appointment with immediate effect following the ACB action. This is a notable instance of a municipal body acting on the same day as the bureau's preliminary findings — before a formal charge sheet is filed. The case relates specifically to the alleged demand and acceptance of money for processing fire NOCs; the ACB's findings remain at a preliminary stage, and further legal proceedings are underway.
Why Fire NOC Corruption Matters
Fire NOCs are mandatory safety clearances required before buildings can be occupied or operated. Delays or corrupt gatekeeping in their issuance can push building owners toward informal payments, undermining both fire safety compliance and public trust in civic systems. Ahmedabad, a rapidly urbanising city, has seen significant growth in commercial and residential construction, making fire safety oversight a critical public interest function. This case is a reminder that regulatory bottlenecks in NOC systems can become vectors for corruption.
Point of View
But it also raises a due-process question: Dongre's dismissal preceded a formal charge sheet, based solely on preliminary ACB findings. Swift action signals zero tolerance, but municipal bodies walking this line risk setting a precedent where an allegation alone ends a career. The deeper issue, however, is structural — fire NOC approvals are a mandatory chokepoint, and wherever discretionary clearances concentrate power in a single officer, corruption risk follows. Ahmedabad's rapid construction boom makes this a systemic problem, not an isolated one.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Ahmedabad's Chief Fire Officer Amit Dongre sacked?
Amit Dongre was terminated by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation after the ACB caught an alleged middleman, Bhavsinh Zala, accepting ₹36,000 in bribes on his behalf for approving fire NOCs for six buildings. The ACB alleged Dongre expressed consent over the bribe amount during a phone call intercepted during the trap.
What is a fire NOC and why is it required?
A fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is a mandatory safety clearance issued by fire authorities before a building can be legally occupied or operated. In this case, the alleged bribe was ₹6,000 per NOC across six buildings in Ahmedabad.
Who is Bhavsinh Zala and what was his role?
Bhavsinh Zala, 31, is the alleged middleman who reportedly accepted the ₹36,000 bribe on behalf of Dongre. He was caught red-handed near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Ahmedabad, in the presence of two government panch witnesses.
Where was the ACB trap laid and who filed the complaint?
The trap was laid near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Ahmedabad. The complainant was a Fire Safety Officer who provides fire safety services to buildings in the city and had submitted NOC applications through the state government's online portal.
What is the current legal status of the case?
The ACB has initiated legal proceedings against both Amit Dongre and Bhavsinh Zala. The bureau's findings are at the preliminary stage, and further legal proceedings are underway. Dongre's appointment has already been terminated by the AMC with immediate effect.
