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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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
