Mumbai Court Clerk Caught Red-Handed in Rs 15 Lakh Bribery Scandal
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Mumbai has uncovered a shocking corruption case involving a court clerk who allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 15 lakh while threatening that the court order would go against the complainant if the payment wasn't made. The scandal has taken a dramatic turn with an additional sessions judge being named as a wanted accused in the case.
The Bribery Demand and Threats
According to the ACB's investigation, the incident began on September 9, 2025, when the complainant sent an associate to the civil court in Mazgaon for a hearing regarding a civil dispute about forcible possession of land belonging to his company. The clerk-cum-typist, Chandrakant Vasudev, allegedly called out to the associate and asked him to meet in the washroom.
During this secret meeting, Vasudev reportedly told the associate in Marathi: 'sahebansathi kahi tari kara, order tumchya bazune hoil' (if you do something for sir, the order will be in your favor). Vasudev provided his phone number and asked the associate to share it with his employer, the actual complainant in the case.
The subsequent events unfolded as follows:
- The complainant contacted Vasudev on WhatsApp, leading to a meeting at a cafe in Chembur on September 12
- Vasudev initially demanded Rs 25 lakh - Rs 10 lakh for himself and Rs 15 lakh for the judge
- When the complainant refused, Vasudev asked him to book a cab from Chembur to his residence in Uran, Navi Mumbai
- The clerk later renegotiated the demand to Rs 15 lakh as the 'final amount'
The Trap and Arrest
The situation escalated on November 8, 2025, when Vasudev called the complainant's associate on WhatsApp and delivered an ultimatum: if the bribe wasn't paid, the court would pass an order against them. Unwilling to comply with the corrupt demands, the complainant approached the ACB.
The ACB conducted a verification process through a WhatsApp call between Vasudev and the complainant, confirming the bribe demand. A trap was set, and on November 11, 2025, Vasudev was arrested red-handed while accepting the bribe amount at the same Chembur coffee chain where they had previously met.
During interrogation, Vasudev claimed that the bribe money was being collected on behalf of the judge. In a crucial development, the ACB recorded a WhatsApp call from Vasudev's phone to the judge, where the judge allegedly acknowledged receipt of the bribe amount and asked the clerk to bring the money to his home.
Judicial Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The ACB produced Vasudev before the special court on Monday, November 17, 2025, where he was sent to magisterial custody for two weeks. The clerk has filed for bail, which will be heard on Friday, November 21, 2025.
In their remand plea, the ACB stated there was 'active participation' of the judge in the alleged offense and that probing his involvement was necessary. The agency has approached the Bombay High Court for necessary permissions as per procedure to continue their investigation into the judge's role.
Additional significant developments include:
- The ACB has sealed the judge's residence after finding it closed during a search operation
- Mobile evidence shows multiple calls and messages between Vasudev and the judge
- One message sent after the trap operation asked Vasudev to come to the judge's home, unaware of his arrest
- Vasudev claimed he had been assigned as the clerk in the judge's court for a year and they shared cordial relations
Additional Public Prosecutor Prabhakar Tarange sought judicial custody for Vasudev, while the clerk's lawyer, Vijay Desai, has filed the bail application. The case continues to develop as the ACB pursues its investigation into what appears to be a deeply entrenched corruption network within the judicial system.
