Surat: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) today arrested Ishwarbhai Maganbhai Patel, Divisional Fire Officer and In-Charge Deputy Chief Fire Officer (Class-3) of Udhna Zone-A/B and Limbayat Zone of the Surat Municipal Corporation, for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹1,00,000 in exchange for issuing a Fire Safety Certificate (NOC) to a hotel.

According to the ACB, the complainant approached the agency after Patel allegedly demanded ₹1 lakh as illegal gratification to process the hotel’s fire safety NOC. Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant filed a formal complaint with the ACB, following which a trap was organized.

During the trap, the complainant met Patel at the Mughlisarai Fire Station, 1st Floor, In-Charge Deputy Chief Fire Office, Chowk Bazaar, Surat. During the meeting, Patel allegedly reiterated the demand and accepted the bribe amount of ₹1,00,000, which was immediately recovered by the ACB team on the spot.

The accused was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe and has been booked under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat