A government fire brigade vehicle allegedly sent to the residence of Gujarat MLA and former minister Bachubhai Khabad in Dahod’s Dhanpur taluka ended up at the centre of a controversy after a video showed the tanker being used to wash the premises.
The video, which surfaced on social media, shows a fire tender belonging to the Devgadh Baria municipality spraying water around Khabad’s residence in Pipero village.
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The incident sparked questions over the alleged use of a government emergency vehicle for a private purpose. The municipality later collected Rs 2,700 as charges for the fire brigade vehicle’s visit. A receipt was reportedly issued in the name of Khabad’s son, Balwant Khabad.
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According to Devgadh Baria Municipal Chairperson Ghamesh Kalal, the fire tender was dispatched after he received a call from the MLA requesting a fire engine.
"Regarding the viral video, the situation was this: I received a call from the MLA asking for a fire engine to be sent. Thinking something serious might have happened, I immediately contacted the fire department and dispatched the vehicle," ANI quoted Kalal.
However, the fire crew reportedly realised something was amiss after reaching the residence. Devgadh Baria Municipal Corporation Fire Officer Mayur Singh Chauhan said he had initially received instructions from his chief, Dharmesh-bhai, to send a fire engine following information about an incident in Pipero village.
Chauhan said, "When the vehicle arrived at the MLA's residence in Pipero village, his associates asked us to wash the house, specifically instructing us to start the washing process from the front."
"Subsequently, my staff called to inform me that it was a hoax call and that we were being asked to wash the house. I halted the operation and collected the applicable charges," he added.
Kalal said the firemen informed their officer after they were allegedly asked to carry out the washing. The officer then directed them not to proceed with the task and informed Kalal about what had happened.
Kalal said he subsequently instructed officials to stop the work and recover the expenses incurred for the fire tender's trip.
The municipal administration has now said that the matter will be examined further. Officials are also expected to investigate the alleged hoax call and determine whether the fire brigade vehicle was sent under proper procedure.
The controversy centres on the use of the fire tender, which is intended for emergency services such as firefighting and rescue operations. The municipal administration is examining whether its deployment at the MLA's residence amounted to an improper use of government resources for a private purpose.