Mumbai — A civil clerk-cum-typist with the Mumbai civil sessions court has been arrested on charges of accepting a ₹15 lakh bribe, allegedly on behalf of an additional sessions judge, in exchange for a favourable verdict in a commercial land dispute. The allegations, according to Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials, point to a negotiation that began months earlier and unfolded in coffee shops, court corridors and phone calls between the accused and the complainant.
The arrested clerk, identified as Chandrakant Vasudeo, is accused of acting as the go-between for Judge Ejazuddin Salauddin Kazi, who now faces arrest as a wanted accused. Officials familiar with the case say the incident has unsettled an already strained judicial system, raising questions about the vulnerability of litigants navigating long and complex property cases.
A Long-Running Land Dispute Sets the Stage
The case traces back to a writ petition filed by the complainant’s wife before the Bombay High Court, alleging forcible possession of company-owned land. In 2016, the High Court stayed the creation of third-party rights, and because the land’s valuation was below ₹10 crore, the matter was eventually transferred to the civil sessions court in Mazgaon, where Judge Kazi presided.
According to investigators, the complainant’s first encounter with Vasudeo occurred on September 9, 2025, when an associate received a call from the clerk while Vasudeo was stationed at Court No. 14. Weeks later, the two men met at a coffee shop in Chembur. There, the ACB says, Vasudeo made an extraordinary demand: ₹25 lakh for ensuring a verdict in the complainant’s favour. Officials claim that the sum was divided in advance — ₹10 lakh allegedly earmarked for Vasudeo and ₹15 lakh for the judge.
Negotiations, Phone Calls and a Tipping Point
When the complainant refused to pay the full sum, the clerk allegedly made repeated calls escalating the pressure. The persistence pushed the complainant to approach the ACB, which instructed him to continue the conversation under surveillance.
On November 10, acting on ACB guidance, the complainant met Vasudeo inside the court premises and agreed to the reduced figure of ₹15 lakh. Investigators say Vasudeo then dialed Judge Kazi in the complainant’s presence to inform him of the arrangement. The judge, the ACB claims, acknowledged the bribe during the call. It was the moment investigators were waiting for. Vasudeo was apprehended soon after and placed under arrest.
A Rare Case of a Judge Named Under Anti-Corruption Law
Both the clerk and the judge have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act, though only Vasudeo is in custody. He has been remanded to police for five days, while Judge Kazi remains a wanted accused.
Senior officials noted that such cases are uncommon in recent years — an additional sessions judge being named under anti-corruption charges is, they said, “one of the rarest developments.” The ACB has stated that further investigation is ongoing, including verification of call records, financial trails, and the alleged prior demands made during the months-long dispute.
