Mumbai court clerk held for accepting Rs 15 lakh bribe, additional sessions judge ‘wanted’: ACB
Mumbai (PTI): A civil clerk-cum-typist was 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 have said.
The anti-graft agency said that 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, the official said on Wednesday.
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.
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Opposition raking up Dalit CM issue to divert attention: Karnataka Minister
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday accused the opposition of "unnecessarily stoking" the debate over a Dalit Chief Minister to deflect attention from governance.
He asserted that only the Congress has the commitment to elevate a Dalit leader to the top post.
Speaking to reporters here, Parameshwara said the ongoing discussion on a Dalit Chief Minister was being amplified by opposition parties.
“This is the work of the opposition. To hide their own failures, they are raising the issue of the Chief Minister. Isn’t the administration running smoothly? Isn’t the Chief Minister governing?” he asked.
The Minister noted that for the past 10–12 days, detailed budget discussions had been held across departments and governance was progressing normally.
Parameshwara, who is a Dalit, said the Congress alone had the history and political will to make a Dalit Chief Minister.
“Yes, it must be the Congress party. Who else will do it?” he said, while clarifying that the timing of any such decision would be determined by the party high command.
On Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s media statement targeting the JD(S) and invoking social justice, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah had earlier been part of the JD(S) and even served as its president before being expelled.
He noted that the internal history of that party was best known to those within it and declined to comment on specific internal matters.
Defending the Chief Minister’s ideological position, Parameshwara said Siddaramaiah’s politics had always been rooted in social justice and that there was nothing new or opportunistic about his stance.
The Chief Minister, he said, had consistently built his political career on that foundation.
