The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Surat has struck against graft within the city's municipal administration, arresting two government officials in separate bribery cases within a short span. The most significant arrest involved a senior fire safety officer allegedly caught red-handed while accepting a hefty bribe.
Senior Fire Official Caught in Rs 1 Lakh Trap
In a major operation, the Surat unit of the ACB arrested Ishwar Patel, the deputy chief fire officer of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). The arrest took place on Wednesday at his office located in the Muglisara area. Patel, who draws a substantial monthly salary of Rs 95,000, was apprehended while allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh.
According to ACB officials, the bribe was demanded from a hotel owner in exchange for issuing a crucial fire safety No Objection Certificate (NOC). Patel, responsible for fire safety clearances across three major SMC zones—South (Udhna) Zone-A, South (Udhna) Zone-B, and Southeast (Limbayat) Zone—had been deliberately delaying the clearance for the complainant's hotel by raising unnecessary queries.
Frustrated by the delay, the hotel owner refused to pay the illicit demand and instead approached the ACB. A trap was then meticulously planned and executed.
How the ACB Trap Was Laid
The operation was led by Navsari ACB police inspector B D Rathwa under the direct supervision of R R Chaudhary, the assistant director of ACB's Surat unit. Following the complaint, Patel summoned the hotel owner to the Muglisara fire station. It was there that the officer was caught in the act of receiving the marked currency notes, providing the ACB with concrete evidence.
Second Bribery Arrest in Udhna
In a concurrent but separate operation, the ACB's net also caught another government servant. The bureau arrested circle officer Krushna Kumar Dabhi, aged 38, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 10,000.
This incident occurred at the Udhna malatdar office in Athwalines. Dabhi, who earns a monthly salary of Rs 82,000, had allegedly demanded the money from a complainant in exchange for verifying plot entry records that fell under his official jurisdiction.
The trap in this case was conducted by Surat rural ACB police inspector S D Dhobi, leading to Dabhi being caught red-handed with the bribe money.
A Stern Message Against Corruption
These back-to-back arrests highlight the ongoing vigilance of the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Gujarat, particularly in Surat. The cases expose how officials, despite drawing handsome government salaries, allegedly exploit their positions for personal gain, harassing citizens and stalling essential services.
The arrest of a senior official like Ishwar Patel, who held a critical public safety portfolio, is especially significant. It sends a strong message that corruption at any level will not be tolerated and that citizens have a recourse in the ACB when faced with such demands. Both officials are now facing legal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
