Mumbai court clerk held for accepting Rs 15 lakh bribe, additional sessions judge 'wanted': ACB

Mumbai, Nov 12 (PTI) A civil clerk-cum-typist has been arrested for allegedly accepting a Rs 15 lakh bribe, prima facie on behalf of an additional sessions judge in Mumbai in exchange for a favourable verdict in a land dispute case, Anti-Corruption Bureau officials said on Wednesday.

The judge has been named as a wanted accused.

This may be the first such incident in recent years where an additional sessions judge has been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, an official noted.

The ACB arrested the clerk, identified as Chandrakant Vasudeo, on Tuesday. The additional sessions judge of the civil court in Mazgaon, Ejazuddin Salauddin Kazi, has been named as a wanted accused in the case, according to an official release.

The ACB stated that a demand of Rs 25 lakh was initially made from the complainant, whose wife had filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court alleging forceful possession of company-owned land. The amount was later negotiated down to Rs 15 lakh.

Of the Rs 25 lakh demanded, Rs 10 lakh was allegedly Vasudeo’s share, and Rs 15 lakh was meant for Judge Kazi.

In April 2016, the High Court had stayed the creation of third-party rights on the disputed land. As the land’s valuation was below Rs 10 crore, the commercial suit was transferred to the civil sessions court in Mazgaon.

On September 9, 2025, an office associate of the complainant received a call from Vasudeo while he was at Court No. 14 of the civil sessions court, the ACB stated.

Vasudeo allegedly met the complainant at a coffee shop in suburban Chembur, where he demanded Rs 25 lakh.

After the complainant refused to pay the huge amount, Vasudeo allegedly made repeated calls demanding the bribe, prompting the complainant to approach the ACB and file a complaint on November 10.

Following ACB’s instructions, the complainant met Vasudeo on the court premises and agreed to pay Rs 15 lakh. Vasudeo then called Judge Kazi to inform him about the payment, and the judge allegedly acknowledged the bribe. Vasudeo was subsequently apprehended and arrested.

Both Vasudeo and Judge Kazi have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While Vasudeo has been remanded to police custody for five days, Judge Kazi remains a wanted accused.

Further investigation is underway, the official said. PTI DC NSK