ACB extends custody to probe alleged bribe for six fire NOCs
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Wednesday secured an additional four-day remand of Amit Dongre, the former Probationary Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), in a case alleging a ₹36,000 bribe linked to approval of fire safety no objection certificates (NOCs) for six buildings in Ahmedabad.
The Ahmedabad ACB court granted the continuation of custody after the agency said it required time to carry out a search of a bank locker reportedly connected to Dongre in his hometown of Bhopal. As part of the investigative plan, Dongre will be taken to Bhopal for the search operation, according to the ACB's latest procedural update.
The matter traces back to August 7, when the bureau laid a trap following a complaint from a Fire Safety Officer who facilitates fire safety-related services and had submitted applications through the Gujarat government’s online portal for fire NOCs for six different buildings in the city. The ACB alleges that a bribe of ₹36,000 — calculated at ₹6,000 per NOC — was demanded and accepted.
- Alleged middleman: Bhavsinh Zala (31), a private individual, was arrested during the trap near Yash Equa Complex at Vijay Cross Roads in Memnagar after allegedly receiving the entire amount.
- Senior official implicated: The ACB contends that Dongre (47) was involved in the demand and consented to the amount over a phone call during the operation.
- Administrative action: The AMC terminated Dongre’s appointment with immediate effect following the trap.
"Preliminary findings indicate that Zala had demanded and accepted the money at Dongre's instance," the bureau said in procedural notes submitted to the court.
The court also approved a warrant against the second accused and Zala has been remanded to Sabarmati Central Jail, the record shows. Officials said the additional custodial period for Dongre will allow the ACB to conduct bank locker searches and complete other investigative formalities central to establishing the money trail.
Local implications and procedural next steps
The case centres on alleged corruption in the approval process for fire safety NOCs, a critical compliance step for building occupation and safety oversight. If substantiated, providers of fire-safety facilitation services, builders and municipal approval channels could face closer scrutiny from regulatory agencies and from civic bodies charged with ensuring public safety.
| Key detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Alleged total bribe | ₹36,000 (₹6,000 per NOC for six NOCs) |
| Primary accused | Amit Dongre, former Probationary Chief Fire Officer, AMC |
| Middleman arrested | Bhavsinh Zala (31) |
| Location of trap | Near Yash Equa Complex, Vijay Cross Roads, Memnagar |
| Further action | Search of bank locker in Bhopal; transfer of Dongre to Bhopal for search |
The ACB said its preliminary probe included interception of a telephone conversation during the trap in which Dongre allegedly gave his consent to the bribe amount. The bureau’s filings indicate the investigation is focused on tracing the alleged demand, acceptance and any financial flows linked to the accused.
For local residents and developers, the case highlights potential vulnerabilities in the online NOC processing chain and the continuing need for transparency in municipal clearances that affect building safety and occupancy. The AMC’s immediate termination of Dongre underscores the corporation’s administrative response once the trap operation concluded.
The ACB will continue its probe under the existing charges and pursue the bank locker search and other leads authorised by the court during Dongre’s extended custody.
