Balvantbhai Bachubhai Khabad, the son of MLA Bachubhai M Khabad, was slapped with a ₹25,000 fine by the Devgadh Baria municipality after he mobilised a fire tender to scrub the exterior of his private house in Pipero village on October 4.
Dharmesh Kalal, the municipal president, called the fire station under the pretense of an emergency and secured verbal clearance from the chief officer before dispatching the vehicle. When the crew arrived, they found no fire and the tender was being used for residential cleaning. The crew halted the operation, imposed an initial spot fine of ₹2,700, and filed a detailed internal report.
The notice cites the Gujarat Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2013, specifically sections 39 and 44, which penalise providing false information and misguiding the fire department. It also states that non‑payment within three days will force the municipality to initiate police action.
Congress representatives have demanded a formal case against MLA Bachubhai M Khabad, questioning whether the dispatch followed regular administrative protocols and calling for police complaints against all parties involved. The incident underscores how misuse of emergency resources can disrupt services for ordinary residents and erode public trust in local governance.