Recently, Judicial propriety came under sharp examination before a Mumbai court after the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) disclosed that it had commenced a formal probe against a sitting sessions court judge in a bribery case, following due approval from the Bombay High Court. The disclosure was made while opposing the bail plea of a court staffer arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to influence a judicial outcome in a land dispute.
The case stems from allegations that Chandrakant Vasudeo, a clerk-cum-typist attached to the court of Sessions Judge Aejazuddin Salauddin Kazi, accepted a bribe to secure a favourable verdict in a land-related matter. Vasudeo was arrested after he was allegedly caught red-handed while receiving Rs 15 lakh, part of a purported demand of Rs. 25 lakh said to be for himself and the judge.
After his bail application was rejected last month, Vasudeo moved a fresh plea before the special ACB court, contending that he had remained in custody for over a month and that further incarceration was unwarranted as his custodial interrogation was no longer required.
Opposing the plea, the ACB informed the court through a written reply that the investigation was at a critical stage and that material already collected pointed to “active involvement” of both the clerk and the judge. The agency cautioned that releasing Vasudeo on bail could jeopardise the investigation, as there was a real possibility of destruction of evidence.
The ACB further stated that it had initiated proceedings against Judge Kazi only after obtaining formal consent from the Bombay High Court, thereby complying with procedural safeguards applicable to members of the judiciary.
In its response placed before the court, the ACB outlined the steps taken pursuant to the High Court’s approval. It stated that permission had been sought to arrest Judge Kazi, following which the Registrar (Vigilance-1) of the High Court directed the agency to proceed in accordance with law and applicable Supreme Court guidelines.
Acting on this direction, a notice was issued to the judge, who appeared before the ACB on December 8. Two days later, on December 10, the agency conducted a search at his residence in a government colony at Churchgate, in the presence of a district and additional sessions judge. The ACB also informed the court that it had collected digital material, including voice samples of Judge Kazi, to verify conversations allegedly recorded during a WhatsApp call.
The special ACB court has reserved consideration of the rival submissions and is expected to decide the bail application on Friday. The matter continues to remain under investigation, with the agency asserting that evidence gathered thus far warrants further custodial and forensic scrutiny.
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