Ahmedabad, August 9: A local court has remanded former probationary chief fire officer Amit Dongre and his accomplice Bhavsinh Jhala until August 12 in a bribery case involving a demand for ₹36,000 in exchange for approving fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested the 47-year-old Dongre and 31-year-old Jhala on August 7 during a sting operation. They allegedly solicited a bribe of ₹6,000 for each of the six fire NOCs required for different buildings in Ahmedabad, totaling ₹36,000.
The complainant, a fire safety officer providing fire safety services in Ahmedabad, reported the bribe demand to the ACB after applying for the NOCs through the state government’s portal. Following this, the ACB set up a trap near the Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in the Memnagar area of Ahmedabad, with two government witnesses present.
During the operation, Jhala reportedly accepted the bribe from the complainant and was caught red-handed. The ACB also claims that Jhala communicated with Dongre via phone during the sting, where Dongre allegedly agreed to the bribe amount.
Based on preliminary investigations, the ACB alleges that Jhala demanded and accepted the bribe at Dongre’s behest, with both accused collaborating in the alleged crime. Following the ACB’s action, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation terminated Dongre’s appointment immediately. He was serving as the probationary chief fire officer in the municipal fire and emergency services department.
Officials stated that records of all NOCs issued on the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s fire service portal are available. The investigation will also scrutinize the bank accounts, financial transactions, and communications of both accused. The ACB believes that further investigations may reveal the accused’s roles and broader aspects of the case.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.