Dahod, Gujarat: A controversy has erupted in Gujarat’s Dahod district after a municipal fire tender was allegedly used to wash the bungalow of Devgadh Baria BJP MLA and former minister Bachu Khabad.
A video circulating on social media shows a fire brigade vehicle from the Devgadh Baria municipality spraying water on the exterior of Khabad’s residence in Pipero village. The incident has raised questions over the alleged use of an emergency service for a private purpose.
According to reports, the fire tender travelled around 24 kilometres from Devgadh Baria to the bungalow after a call was received from the MLA’s side. Municipal officials said that when the vehicle was initially dispatched, they were not aware that it would be used to wash the house. Once officials learned the actual purpose of the deployment, the fire department ordered the vehicle to stop the operation and return.
Devgadh Baria municipality president Dharmesh Kalal said the fire department received a call and the vehicle was sent to the location. He claimed that officials were initially unaware of the purpose of the call and that the operation was stopped after they came to know that water was being sprayed on the bungalow.
The controversy intensified after the video went viral, with questions being raised over the deployment of a government emergency vehicle, municipal water and fire-service personnel for cleaning a private residence.
Following the incident, the municipality reportedly recovered a charge of around ₹2,700–₹2,750 from the Khabad family. Different reports have cited slightly different figures, with ₹2,750 described as a fine/charge by municipal officials.
The incident has also prompted questions about the procedure followed in dispatching the fire tender and whether emergency vehicles can be used for non-emergency services on payment of a fee. Municipal authorities have indicated that the circumstances surrounding the deployment are being examined.
The viral video has since triggered a wider debate over the use of public resources and emergency services, while the exact responsibility for authorising the deployment remains a matter of discussion among local officials.
