Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 13: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested a civil clerk-cum-typist for allegedly accepting a Rs 15 lakh bribe on behalf of an Additional Sessions Judge in Mumbai in connection with a land dispute case.

The accused, identified as Chandrakant Vasudeo, was arrested on Tuesday. The ACB has named Additional Sessions Judge Ejazuddin Salauddin Kazi of the Mazgaon Civil Court as a wanted accused in the case.

According to officials, 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 illegal possession of company-owned land. The amount was later brought down to Rs 15 lakh. Of the total, Rs 10 lakh was allegedly Vasudeo’s share, while Rs 15 lakh was said to be meant for Judge Kazi.

The High Court had stayed the creation of third-party rights over the disputed property in 2016, and since the valuation was below Rs 10 crore, the case was transferred to the civil sessions court at Mazgaon.

On September 9, 2025, Vasudeo allegedly contacted the complainant through an office associate and later met him at a coffee shop in Chembur, where he demanded the bribe. When the complainant refused, Vasudeo allegedly made repeated calls, prompting him to approach the ACB.

Following a complaint filed on November 10, the ACB laid a trap. The complainant met Vasudeo at 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 it. The ACB immediately arrested Vasudeo.

Both Vasudeo and Judge Kazi have been booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act. While Vasudeo has been remanded to five days’ police custody, Judge Kazi remains absconding.
Further investigation is underway, officials said.