Mumbai Bribery Case: Court Clerk Arrested Taking ₹15 Lakh Bribe; Judge Named in FIR as ACB Launches Probe

Mumbai | Undercoer Editor News Agency | November 13, 2025.
In a major anti-corruption crackdown, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday arrested Chandrakant Vasudev (40), a clerk at the Mazgaon City Civil and Sessions Court, for allegedly accepting a ₹15 lakh bribe from a Bandra-based businessman to secure a favourable court order in a property dispute.

The ACB has also named Additional Sessions Judge Aejazuddin S. Kazi (55) in the FIR, showing him as “wanted” in the ongoing investigation

Rs 25 lakh bribe demand – Rs 15 lakh for judge, Rs 10 lakh for clerk

According to ACB officials, the accused clerk initially demanded a total of ₹25 lakh — ₹15 lakh allegedly meant for the judge and ₹10 lakh for himself. After negotiations, the amount was brought down to ₹15 lakh. Vasudev was later caught red-handed while accepting the money and has been remanded to five days’ custody.

Judge named after call during ACB trap

ACB Assistant Commissioner of Police Manisha Zende confirmed that Judge Kazi’s name was added to the FIR after the clerk, upon receiving the bribe, called the judge to inform him that the money had been collected.

“Vasudev was caught while accepting the bribe after assuring the complainant that the order would be passed in his favour. The judge has been named and further investigation is underway,” ACP Zende stated.

Case linked to Bandra property dispute

The case revolves around a property in Bandra owned by the businessman’s wife’s company, which was allegedly encroached upon by another party. The dispute was earlier being heard in the Bombay High Court, which stayed proceedings in 2016 since the property’s value was below ₹10 crore. In March 2024, the case was transferred to the Mazgaon City Civil and Sessions Court.

On September 9, 2025, when the matter came up for hearing, Vasudev allegedly contacted the complainant, asking him to meet at a café in Chembur. During their meeting on September 12, the clerk reportedly demanded ₹25 lakh, stating that a favourable order could be “managed” through the judge.

ACB lays trap and arrests clerk

Following multiple follow-up calls from the clerk, the businessman approached the ACB Worli office on November 10 and lodged a formal complaint. The bureau verified the claim and laid a trap the next day.
On November 11, Vasudev was caught red-handed while accepting the ₹15 lakh bribe.

“Immediately after taking the cash, Vasudev contacted the judge to inform him that the amount had been received. Based on this, both were booked under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” an ACB officer said.

The ongoing probe is being supervised by Inspector Sunit Dighe under the guidance of Assistant Commissioner of Police Pravin Navadkar.