Mumbai Court Bribery Scandal: Clerk Caught Taking ₹15 Lakh, Judge Goes Missing

Mumbai:
A shocking bribery scandal has surfaced from a Mumbai courtroom, where a conversation in the court washroom exposed an alleged deal between a clerk and an Additional Sessions Judge. According to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the clerk assured a litigant that if he “did something for the judge,” the verdict would be delivered in his favour.

The clerk, Chandrakant Vasudev, has been arrested while accepting ₹15 lakh in bribe, whereas the judge, Ejazuddin Qazi, has reportedly gone underground.

Clerk Caught Taking Bribe, Judge Allegedly Approved the Deal

Vasudev, a clerk-typist with the Civil Sessions Court, allegedly demanded the bribe from a petitioner on 11 November. ACB officials claim the money was meant for Judge Qazi. The judge is accused of playing an “active role” in the bribery arrangement.

During the trap operation, ACB laid ₹4 lakh in genuine currency notes and ₹11 lakh in dummy notes. Vasudev was caught red-handed while accepting the amount.

In a dramatic revelation, ACB confirmed that, in front of witnesses, the clerk made a WhatsApp call to Judge Qazi, who allegedly gave his “approval” for accepting the bribe.

Judge Absconding; Clerk in Judicial Custody

Following his arrest, Vasudev told investigators he had been working with the judge for a year and shared a “good rapport” with him, often seeking help for personal issues.

He has now been sent to judicial custody, and his bail plea will be heard on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the disappearance of Judge Qazi has sparked intense discussions in judicial and administrative circles, raising serious questions about corruption within the court system.