AMC Fires 9 Fire Brigade Officers Over Fake Sponsorship Scam
Major Reforms in Fire Department After Rajkot Fire Incident: AMC Terminates 9 Officers Over Fake Sponsorship Scandal
In the wake of the Rajkot fire tragedy, significant changes have been implemented in the fire department, alongside the ongoing recruitment process. The Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad has ordered the dismissal of nine fire brigade officers, including three divisional fire officers, due to allegations of securing their jobs through fraudulent sponsorships.
The dismissed officers from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s fire brigade department were found to have gained admission to the National Fire Service College in Nagpur using fake sponsorships from Gujarat State Civil Defense, Ahmedabad. Based on the certificates obtained through these fraudulent means, they secured positions as Deputy Fire Officers and other roles within the department. On Friday afternoon, the Municipal Commissioner issued orders to terminate all nine officers.
These fire officers were given a final show-cause notice by the Municipal Corporation’s IR department, granting them 10 days to respond to the allegations concerning the bogus sponsorships. However, the responses provided by the officers were deemed unsatisfactory by the Municipal Commissioner, leading to their dismissal.
Officers Illegitimately Secured Employment in Fire Department
Among those dismissed were Divisional Fire Officers Inayat Sheikh and Om Jadeja, who obtained sub-officer certificates from the National Fire Service College in Nagpur using fake sponsorships. They then used these certificates to gain employment in various organizations and eventually secured positions in the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s fire department. Another dismissed officer, Kaizad Dastur, also gained admission to several advanced courses at the National Fire Service College without meeting the required experience criteria, ultimately securing a job in the fire department through improper means.
AMC Fires Officers for Securing Jobs Through Fake Sponsorships
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has dismissed nine fire brigade officers, including three Divisional Fire Officers, after uncovering that they had secured their positions using fraudulent sponsorships to gain admission to the National Fire Service College in Nagpur.
List of Dismissed Officers
Officer Name | Position
Kaizad Dastur | Divisional Fire Officer
Om Jadeja | Divisional Fire Officer
Inayat Sheikh | Divisional Fire Officer
Mehul Gadhvi | Station Officer
Shubham Khadiya | Station Officer
Aniruddh Gadhvi | Station Officer
Sudhir Gadhvi | Station Officer
Abhijit Gadhvi | Station Officer
Asif Sheikh | Sub Fire Officer
How the Officers Illegitimately Secured Their Jobs
The investigation revealed that Station Officers Shubham Gadhvi, Aniruddh Gadhvi, Mehul Gadhvi, and Abhijit Gadhvi gained admission to the National Fire Service College in Nagpur using fake sponsorships from the Central Public Works Department in New Delhi. They obtained sub-officer certificates and then secured positions within the AMC fire department. Similarly, Fire Officer Sudhir Gadhvi and Sub Fire Officer Asif Sheikh used bogus sponsorships from a private company, Koshi Hydro Electric Corp. Ltd., in Bihar to obtain their certificates and subsequently their jobs in the Ahmedabad fire brigade.
Vigilance Investigation and Final Action
The officers were subjected to a vigilance investigation after complaints were filed with the Municipal Commissioner regarding their fake sponsorships. The investigation confirmed the allegations, leading to a final show-cause notice. As the responses from the officers were unsatisfactory, the Commissioner ordered their dismissal.
Challenges Facing the Fire Department
The fire department’s workload has increased significantly following the Rajkot fire incident, and the dismissal of these nine officers has raised concerns about staffing shortages. With only one Divisional Fire Officer remaining in Ahmedabad, questions arise about how the fire brigade will manage emergency situations. Although recruitment for various posts within the fire brigade is underway, the process has yet to be completed.
Misuse of Position by Past Officers
In the past, some officers misused their positions to secure admissions for their children and others into the NFSC in Nagpur using fraudulent sponsorships. Current officers facing charges have ongoing court cases against them, with some already having filed cases against the Municipal Corporation.
