The Chief Fire Officer of Ahmedabad Fire Brigade, Amit Dongre, was arrested by the Anti‑Corruption Bureau for demanding Rs 36,000 in bribes to approve fire NOCs for six buildings, highlighting alleged corruption in civic clearances.

Key Takeaways

  • Chief Fire Officer Amit Dongre arrested for accepting a Rs 36,000 bribe.
  • Bribe demanded for six fire NOC approvals, Rs 6,000 per building.
  • ACB launches wider probe into fire clearance system.

Arrest Details

The Anti‑Corruption Bureau (ACB) has taken into custody Amit Dongre, Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Fire Brigade, along with middleman Bhavsinh Jhala, on allegations of accepting a total of Rs 36,000 in bribes. The sum was demanded at Rs 6,000 per building for six fire No‑Objection Certificates (NOCs).

Investigation Trail

A complainant, unwilling to pay the illicit fee, approached the Vadodara ACB. Acting on the complaint, the bureau set up a sting operation at Yash Complex in Memnagar, where Jhala was caught collecting the money on Dongre’s instructions. Recorded conversations between the two formed the backbone of the evidence.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that corruption in fire safety approvals undermines public trust and endangers lives, signalling an urgent need for systemic reforms and tighter oversight of municipal services.

"Corruption in fire safety approvals erodes public confidence and raises serious safety risks," said Dr. Ramesh Patel, senior analyst at the Institute of Urban Governance.
Did You Know?: The standard fee for a fire NOC in Gujarat is around Rs 2,000, making the demanded Rs 6,000 per building unusually high.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a Fire NOC? A Fire No‑Objection Certificate is an official clearance confirming that a building complies with fire safety standards.
  • Will the arrests affect pending approvals? The ACB has paused all pending fire NOC applications pending further review.