Judge's Shocking Communication After Clerk's Arrest
In a dramatic turn of events, a Mumbai Additional Sessions Judge remained completely unaware that his clerk-cum-typist had been arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh on his behalf. The judge allegedly continued sending messages and making phone calls to his arrested clerk the next morning, inquiring about his whereabouts and instructing him on how to hand over the collected bribe money.
The Elaborate Bribery Scheme Unfolds
The corruption case dates back to September 2024 when the judge's clerk, Chandrakant Vasudev, first contacted the complainant with a shocking proposition. Vasudev promised that the judge would rule in the complainant's favor in exchange for a bribe of Rs 25 lakh. The case involved a land possession dispute that had been transferred from the Bombay High Court to the sessions court where the accused judge was presiding.
When the complainant showed reluctance, Vasudev persistently followed up with multiple phone calls. This prompted the complainant to approach the ACB rather than pay the demanded bribe. After verifying the complaint, the ACB set up an elaborate trap on Tuesday evening, November 11, 2025.
ACB's Sting Operation and Aftermath
The ACB asked the complainant to carry dummy currency notes amounting to Rs 15 lakh. As soon as Vasudev accepted the money, ACB officials detained him red-handed. In a strategic move, the ACB then directed Vasudev to proceed with the original plan by calling the judge to inform him that the money had been received.
According to ACB officials, the judge acknowledged the receipt of the bribe amount but mentioned he was out of the city. He instructed Vasudev to meet him the next day to hand over the cash. This conversation was recorded by the ACB and became crucial evidence leading to the judge being named as an accused in the case.
Meanwhile, the ACB obtained permission to conduct a house search of the Additional Sessions Judge on Thursday, November 13, 2025. When the ACB team reached the judge's government quarters in Churchgate, they found the premises locked. The team subsequently sealed the lock and posted a constable outside the residence.
Broader Pattern of Judicial Corruption
This case marks the second instance within a year where a judge has been named as an accused in a corruption case. In December 2024, Additional Sessions Judge from Satara, Dhananjay Nikam, was accused of demanding Rs 5 lakh from a woman to release her father on bail. The Bombay High Court dismissed Judge Nikam last month, highlighting the seriousness with which the judiciary is addressing corruption within its ranks.
The ACB has also conducted a search at Vasudev's residence in Uran. Vasudev was produced before the court on Wednesday evening and remanded to police custody for five days. The ACB is likely to approach the relevant authorities seeking permission to arrest the judge involved in this latest corruption scandal.
The case originated from a 2015 petition filed by the complainant's wife in the Bombay High Court regarding forcible possession of company land. Since the high court doesn't handle cases valued under Rs 10 crore, the matter was transferred to a civil sessions court as a commercial suit in March 2024, where it came before the accused judge.
