3 weeks ago
Ahmedabad fire chief terminated after bribery arrest; interim CFO named
In the city of Ahmedabad in India, the person in charge of the fire department was arrested.
He was accused of taking secret money, called a bribe, to say that some buildings were safe.
Because of this, the city government fired him from his job.
The city then picked two officers to share his important duties, which made firefighters confused about who was the real boss.
The city's main official explained that one officer, Mr. Mistry, is in charge of everything.
Investigators will keep the arrested leader for four more days so they can check his house and bank lockers.
Another person involved in the case was sent to jail.
Taking money to approve safety certificates is against the law because buildings must be checked properly.
The police are still investigating to find out all the facts.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) terminated CFO Amitkumar Anandrao Dongre after his arrest by the Gujarat Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
An August 10 AMC order giving additional charge of the CFO post to Mithun P Mistry and the Prevention Wing to Jayesh P Khadia created confusion among AFES officers.
Municipal Commissioner Bancha Nidhi Pani clarified that interim CFO Mistry has final authority on all AFES matters, saying 'the powers have been devolved, not divided.'
The ACB received four more days of remand for Dongre to search his Bhopal house and bank lockers; co-accused Bhavsinh Pratap Jhala was sent to judicial custody at Sabarmati Central Jail.
The ACB recovered Rs 36,000 allegedly paid as bribes to approve Fire Safety Certificates for six buildings at Rs 6,000 each, and the investigation remains underway.
- Who
- Amitkumar Anandrao Dongre, former Chief Fire Officer of the Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Services (AFES), co-accused Bhavsinh Pratap Jhala, and interim CFO Mithun P Mistry.
- What
- Dongre was terminated by the AMC after his ACB arrest over alleged bribes to approve Fire Safety Certificates; an AMC order splitting top posts caused confusion that the commissioner later clarified.
- Where
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat; the ACB also sought to search Dongre's house in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- August 2026 – Dongre was arrested on August 7, terminated on August 10, and the ACB received four more days of remand.
- Why
- Dongre allegedly accepted bribes to approve Fire Safety Certificates for six buildings, with Rs 36,000 recovered by the ACB.
Key facts
- City
- Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
- Arrested official
- Amitkumar Anandrao Dongre, former CFO of AFES
- Arrest date
- August 7, 2026
- Termination date
- August 10, 2026
- Allegation
- Accepting bribes to approve Fire Safety Certificates
- Bribe recovered
- Rs 36,000 for six buildings (Rs 6,000 each)
- Interim CFO
- Mithun P Mistry
- Co-accused
- Bhavsinh Pratap Jhala, sent to Sabarmati Central Jail
Quotes
Bancha Nidhi Pani
Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner
“Mithun Mistry is the senior‑most officer according to the merit list, so he has been given charge of CFO with the powers to approve the FSCs.”
indianexpress.com
“The powers have been devolved, not divided.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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