A clerk from a Mumbai sessions court, who was allegedly caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 15 lakh, has approached the court for bail a second time, citing his incarceration of nearly a month. Chandrakant Vasudev (40), a clerk-typist at the Mazgaon Civil Sessions Court, was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on November 11.
The Bail Plea and Prosecution's Opposition
In his fresh bail application, Vasudev argued that his continued custody was unnecessary as the investigation against him was complete. He submitted that there was no further requirement for him to be detained. However, the prosecution strongly opposed his plea for release. The court is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.
The bribe money was purportedly intended for an additional sessions judge, who remains unnamed and has not been arrested so far. Following Vasudev's arrest, an ACB team visited the judge's official quarters at Churchgate on November 12. Finding the residence locked, officials were forced to conduct a house sealing panchnama.
The Elaborate ACB Trap and Bribe Demand
The chain of events leading to the trap began on September 9. According to the ACB's remand application, the case originated from a long-standing property dispute. A complainant and his wife, who run a business, had accused two individuals of forcibly occupying their commercial property in Kurla. The legal battle had been ongoing since 2015.
The Bombay High Court had initially granted a stay on creating any third-party rights over the property on April 27, 2016. Later, in March 2024, the high court transferred the case to the Mazgaon Civil Sessions Court, classifying it as a "Commercial Suit."
Vasudev, a resident of Uran who commuted to court by boat from the Bhaucha Dhakka ferry terminal, entered the picture soon after. On September 12, he allegedly demanded Rs 25 lakh from the complainant, specifying that Rs 10 lakh was for himself and Rs 15 lakh was for the judge. When the complainant refused, Vasudev persisted.
By the next day, September 13, he reportedly reduced the total demand to Rs 15 lakh and instructed the complainant to bring the money to Uran. The pressure escalated on November 8, when Vasudev allegedly warned the complainant's colleague that the court case would be decided against them if the payment was not made.
Evidence Seized and Ongoing Investigation
The ACB has gathered substantial evidence in the case. This includes the Rs 15 lakh cash accepted as bribe, audio recordings of mobile conversations, video recordings of the trap, and Vasudev's mobile phone. The phone allegedly contains WhatsApp calls and messages exchanged between Vasudev and the other accused judge, which are crucial to the probe.
The case highlights serious allegations of corruption within the court system, where a court official is accused of acting as a conduit for a judge. The ACB's investigation continues as they build their case, while the judicial officer in question remains under scrutiny.
