Gujarat bribery case: Ex-Ahmedabad fire officer remanded till Aug 12 over ₹36,000 NOC bribe
Synopsis
A former Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation fire officer was caught in an ACB sting after allegedly demanding ₹36,000 — ₹6,000 per NOC — to clear fire safety certificates for six buildings. The AMC terminated his appointment the same day, and a court has now remanded both accused till 12 August as investigators dig into bank trails and call records.
Key Takeaways
Amit Dongre , former Probationary Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation , and co-accused Bhavsinh Zala were arrested on 7 August in an ACB sting.
The alleged bribe was ₹36,000 — ₹6,000 per fire NOC — for approving certificates for six buildings in Ahmedabad.
Zala was caught red-handed accepting the full amount near Vijay Cross Roads, Memnagar ; Dongre was allegedly in telephonic contact during the trap.
The AMC terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect following the ACB action.
A local court has remanded both accused until 5 pm on 12 August ; investigators will examine bank trails and phone records.
A local court in Ahmedabad has remanded Amit Dongre, former Probationary Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), and his co-accused Bhavsinh Zala in custody until 5 pm on 12 August, in connection with an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) case involving an alleged bribe of ₹36,000 for approving fire No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for six buildings. The two were arrested on 7 August following a sting operation conducted by the ACB.
What the Bribe Allegedly Involved
According to the ACB, the alleged demand of ₹36,000 was made for approving fire NOCs for six different buildings in Ahmedabad — at ₹6,000 per NOC. The applications for these NOCs had been submitted through the state government's online portal.
The complainant, who works as a Fire Safety Officer providing fire safety services to buildings in the city, was allegedly approached with the demand and subsequently lodged a complaint at the Vadodara City ACB Police Station.
How the Trap Was Laid
Acting on the complaint, the ACB set up a trap near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in the Memnagar area of Ahmedabad, in the presence of two government panch witnesses. During the operation, Zala, a private individual, allegedly held a purposeful conversation with the complainant and accepted the full ₹36,000. He was caught red-handed and the entire alleged bribe amount was recovered on the spot.
The ACB further alleged that during the trap, Zala telephoned Dongre, who reportedly engaged in a purposeful conversation and expressed consent regarding the bribe. Based on its preliminary findings, the bureau concluded that Zala demanded and accepted the money at Dongre's instance, and that both accused abetted each other in the alleged offence.
AMC Terminates Dongre's Appointment
Following the ACB action, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect. He had been serving in the AMC's Fire and Emergency Services Department in a probationary capacity at the time of his arrest. Dongre is 47 years old; Zala is 31.
Investigation Underway
ACB officials stated that investigators will examine the bank account trails of both accused and scrutinise their phone conversations. The AMC's fire services portal — which contains records of all NOCs issued — will also be reviewed as part of the probe.
'The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has a fire services portal containing records of all the NOCs issued. We will examine the bank account trails of both accused and their conversations. Further investigation will reveal the extent of their involvement,' officials said.
The remand remains in force until 5 pm on 12 August as the ACB continues its investigation into the alleged bribe demand and the full extent of both accused's involvement.
Point of View
But it points to a systemic pressure point: fire NOC approvals, which are mandatory for building occupancy, have long been flagged as a corruption-prone checkpoint in Indian municipal governance. The ACB's use of a complainant-turned-witness and a telephonic intercept during the trap suggests a tightening of enforcement methodology in Gujarat. What remains to be seen is whether the bank trail investigation reveals a wider network — or whether this stays a two-person case. The AMC's swift termination of Dongre signals institutional damage-control, but questions about how many NOCs may have been cleared corruptly over his tenure deserve a separate audit.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Amit Dongre and why was he arrested?
Amit Dongre, 47, was the Probationary Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's Fire and Emergency Services Department. He was arrested on 7 August by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in connection with an alleged ₹36,000 bribe demand for approving fire NOCs for six buildings in Ahmedabad.
What is the alleged bribe amount in the Ahmedabad fire NOC case?
The alleged bribe totalled ₹36,000 — calculated at ₹6,000 per fire No-Objection Certificate for six different buildings. The amount was allegedly demanded through co-accused Bhavsinh Zala, a private individual.
How did the ACB catch the accused?
The ACB laid a trap near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar, Ahmedabad, after the complainant approached the Vadodara City ACB Police Station. Zala was caught red-handed accepting the full ₹36,000 in the presence of two government panch witnesses.
What action did the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation take against Dongre?
The AMC terminated Dongre's appointment with immediate effect following the ACB arrest, removing him from his probationary position in the Fire and Emergency Services Department.
What happens next in the case?
Both accused are remanded in ACB custody until 5 pm on 12 August 2025. Investigators plan to examine bank account trails and phone conversations of both accused, and will also review the AMC's fire services portal records to determine the full extent of their involvement.
