Interpreter in Mumbai’s Small-Causes Court Arrested for Rs 25 Lakh Bribe Demand
Mumbai, 10th September 2024: On Monday, the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Mumbai arrested a 43-year-old interpreter from a small-causes court for allegedly soliciting and accepting a bribe of Rs 25 lakh from a hotelier in south Mumbai.
The ACB reported that the 66-year-old complainant, who is embroiled in a legal dispute over a hotel’s ownership, was approached by Vishal Chandrakant Sawant, the interpreter. Sawant purportedly promised to influence the court’s decision in favour of the complainant in exchange for the bribe.
The complainant and his partner had previously filed a case in the small-causes court near the LT Marg police station over a year ago. According to the ACB, the judgment in their case was scheduled for September 13.
When Sawant approached the complainant with the bribe demand, the complainant and his partner decided to report the matter to the ACB’s Worli office on Friday.
“We summoned the complainants to our office on Monday, recorded their statements, verified the complaint, and registered a case against Sawant under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act,” an ACB officer stated.
Sawant initially requested the bribe at the court premises but later changed the location to a hotel. He was apprehended around 7 pm on Monday while receiving the Rs 25 lakh bribe.
The ACB has formed a team to investigate whether Sawant holds any disproportionate assets. If any are discovered, appropriate action will be taken, according to a senior ACB officer.
