Ahmedabad fire officer Amit Dongre gets 4-day remand in ₹36,000 bribery case
Synopsis
A former Ahmedabad fire officer allegedly ran a ₹6,000-per-NOC bribery scheme for six buildings — and was caught when his alleged middleman was nabbed red-handed. Now the ACB is headed to Bhopal to search a bank locker that could reveal how deep the trail runs.
Key Takeaways
The ACB court granted a four-day remand extension for Amit Dongre on 12 August to enable a bank locker search in Bhopal .
Dongre, 47 , was the former Probationary Chief Fire Officer at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) .
The alleged bribe of ₹36,000 was calculated at ₹6,000 per NOC for six buildings .
Co-accused Bhavsinh Zala, 31 , was allegedly caught red-handed and has been sent to Sabarmati Central Jail .
The ACB trap was laid on 7 August following a complaint from a Fire Safety Officer.
The AMC terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect following the operation.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has secured a four-day remand extension for Amit Dongre, the former Probationary Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in connection with an alleged ₹36,000 bribery case tied to fire safety No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for six buildings in Ahmedabad. The ACB court granted the extended custody on Wednesday, 12 August, as investigators prepare to search a bank locker linked to Dongre in his hometown of Bhopal.
Why the Remand Was Extended
The ACB sought the additional four days specifically to conduct a search of Dongre's bank locker in Bhopal, requiring his physical presence during the operation. He will be transported to Bhopal as part of this phase of the investigation. The court simultaneously approved a warrant against the second accused, Bhavsinh Zala, who has been sent to Sabarmati Central Jail.
How the Trap Was Laid
The case originated on 7 August, when the ACB received a complaint from a Fire Safety Officer who provides fire safety services to buildings across Ahmedabad. The complainant had submitted applications through the Gujarat government's online portal for fire NOCs covering six separate buildings.
According to the ACB, a bribe of ₹36,000 — calculated at ₹6,000 per NOC — was allegedly demanded through Zala, 31, a private individual acting as an intermediary. During a trap operation near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Zala was allegedly caught red-handed accepting the full amount.
Dongre's Alleged Role
The ACB subsequently alleged that Dongre, 47, was the principal beneficiary behind the demand. During the trap operation, Zala reportedly spoke to Dongre over telephone, and Dongre allegedly gave his consent to the bribe amount in that conversation. The bureau's preliminary findings indicated that Zala had demanded and accepted the money at Dongre's instance.
Following the operation, the AMC terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect. At the time of the alleged offence, he was serving as Probationary Chief Fire Officer in the AMC's Fire and Emergency Services Department.
What Happens Next
The Bhopal bank locker search is the next critical step, and its findings could significantly shape the direction of the investigation. The case highlights systemic vulnerabilities in the fire NOC approval process — a concern that has drawn scrutiny in Gujarat following a series of fire safety incidents in recent years. The ACB's investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
000 figure is modest, but the architecture of the alleged scheme — a serving municipal officer, a private intermediary, and an online government portal being gamed — points to a systemic problem rather than an isolated lapse. Fire NOC corruption is particularly consequential in Gujarat, a state that has seen deadly building fires partly attributed to safety compliance failures. The ACB's move to search a Bhopal bank locker suggests investigators believe the paper trail extends well beyond what the trap operation captured. Whether this leads to a wider network or ends with two accused will test the bureau's appetite for a deeper probe.
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Amit Dongre's remand extended by four more days?
The ACB sought the extension to conduct a search of Dongre's bank locker in his hometown of Bhopal, which requires him to be present. The Ahmedabad ACB court granted the additional four-day custody on 12 August.
What is the ₹36,000 bribery case against Amit Dongre?
Dongre, former Probationary Chief Fire Officer at the AMC, is accused of demanding ₹36,000 — at ₹6,000 per NOC — for approving fire safety No Objection Certificates for six buildings in Ahmedabad. The alleged bribe was reportedly channelled through private individual Bhavsinh Zala.
Who is Bhavsinh Zala and what is his role in the case?
Bhavsinh Zala, 31, is a private individual accused of acting as an intermediary in the bribery scheme. He was allegedly caught red-handed accepting the full ₹36,000 during an ACB trap near Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Ahmedabad. He has since been sent to Sabarmati Central Jail.
What action did the AMC take against Dongre?
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect following the ACB trap operation on 7 August. He was serving as Probationary Chief Fire Officer in the AMC's Fire and Emergency Services Department at the time.
What is the ACB expected to find in Bhopal?
The ACB has not publicly specified what it expects to uncover, but the bank locker search in Bhopal is a standard investigative step to trace assets or documents linked to the accused. Its findings could determine whether the probe expands to additional accused or transactions.
