New Delhi, April 23: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested a court official at Delhi's Tis Hazari Courts on Thursday, April 23, for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe to influence a bail application — marking the agency's second corruption-related arrest in as many days. The accused, Sanjeev Sadana, was serving as Reader to the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ-02) at the Tis Hazari Courts when he was nabbed in a sting operation.

How the Trap Was Laid

The CBI registered the case following a formal complaint alleging that Sanjeev Sadana had demanded Rs 30,000 in illegal gratification from a complainant in exchange for facilitating favourable consideration of their client's bail application. The accused later agreed to accept Rs 20,000 as the first instalment of the total demanded amount.

Acting swiftly on the complaint, CBI operatives laid a carefully coordinated trap. Sadana was caught red-handed at the moment of accepting the Rs 20,000 cash payment and was placed under arrest on the spot. Officials confirmed that a case has been registered under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Who Is Sanjeev Sadana

Sanjeev Sadana held the position of Reader — a key administrative role in Indian district courts — attached to the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ-02) bench at Tis Hazari Courts, one of Delhi's largest and busiest district court complexes. A Reader's role involves managing case files, scheduling hearings, and liaising between the judge and litigants, making the position susceptible to corrupt solicitation.

Investigators are now probing whether other individuals — including intermediaries or co-conspirators — were involved in the bribery network. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

Second CBI Anti-Corruption Arrest in 48 Hours

This arrest comes just 24 hours after the CBI nabbed Ajay, a Head Constable with the Delhi Police's Anti-Narcotics Cell, Dwarka unit, for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 2 lakh. Ajay had allegedly demanded the money to avoid falsely implicating a woman in a criminal case. He, too, was arrested following a trap laid by the agency.

The back-to-back operations signal an intensified CBI focus on rooting out corruption within Delhi's public institutions — spanning both the judiciary support staff and law enforcement.

Pattern of Corruption in Delhi's Courts and Police

This incident is not isolated. Corruption within district court ecosystems — involving clerks, readers, and other support staff — has been a persistent concern flagged by bar associations and legal reform advocates. The Tis Hazari Courts complex, handling thousands of cases daily, has historically been identified as a high-risk environment for such malpractice.

Notably, the CBI has in recent years intensified its use of trap operations to catch public servants in the act, resulting in higher conviction rates under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The agency has consistently emphasised that timely public complaints are critical to building airtight cases against corrupt officials.

CBI's Message to Citizens

The CBI reiterated its commitment to strict action against officials engaged in corrupt practices. The agency urged citizens to proactively report instances of bribery or coercion by public servants, noting that public cooperation remains the cornerstone of successful anti-corruption prosecutions.

As the investigation into Sadana's case deepens, authorities are expected to examine his financial records and communication history to determine the full scale of the alleged corruption network. Further arrests in this case cannot be ruled out, officials indicated.