In Lieu of the Fire: A Diary of Events in the Case of Justice Yashwant Verma

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A chronological account of the events leading to calls for the impeachment of the Delhi High Court judge.

NEW DELHI: A video purportedly showing remnants of burnt currency notes allegedly recovered after a fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma has ignited a storm of controversy, placing the Indian judiciary under intense public scrutiny.

In response to the rapidly unfolding situation, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna took the extraordinary step of making public the preliminary inquiry report submitted by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, along with Justice Varma’s written response to the allegations.

Amidst growing speculation, political debates, and social media discussions, here is a comprehensive timeline of the key events that have led to demands for Justice Varma’s impeachment:

March 14, 2025: The Fire Incident

• A fire breaks out at 11:30 PM in a storeroom within the premises of Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence in Delhi.
• At the time of the incident, Justice Varma was in Bhopal. His daughter, who was present at the residence along with his elderly mother, notices the fire and immediately contacts the police control room.
• Notably, no separate call was made to the fire department.

March 15, 2025: Initial Reports & Communication

• Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora contacts Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya at 4:50 PM, informing him about the fire incident.
• Chief Justice Upadhyaya, who was in Lucknow on a Holi vacation, immediately relays this information to CJI Sanjiv Khanna, as per protocol.
• CJI Khanna instructs Chief Justice Upadhyaya to seek further details regarding the incident from the Delhi Police.

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March 16, 2025: Preliminary Investigation & Site Inspection

• Delhi Police Commissioner submits an initial report to Chief Justice Upadhyaya, revealing:
  • The police control room was contacted by Justice Varma’s personal secretary, who had been informed of the fire by a domestic worker stationed at the residence.
  • The storeroom where the fire originated was adjacent to the guard room, where CRPF security personnel were posted.
  • The storeroom was normally kept locked.
  • Some burnt debris and half-charred items were cleared from the location the next morning.
• In response, Chief Justice Upadhyaya directs his Registrar-cum-Secretary to visit the site for an inspection.
• Accompanied by Justice Varma, the Registrar inspects the storeroom and confirms that it had been completely gutted, with soot-covered debris hanging from the ceiling.
• Crucially, no mention of burnt currency notes or any cash is made in the report.
• Later that evening, Chief Justice Upadhyaya returns to Delhi and personally briefs CJI Khanna about the developments.
• The CJI instructs him to meet with Justice Varma to discuss the matter further.

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March 17, 2025: Justice Varma’s Explanation

• At 8:30 AM, Chief Justice Upadhyaya meets Justice Varma at the Delhi High Court Guest House.
• Justice Varma explains that the storeroom contained old and unused household items, including mattresses and furniture.
• He also emphasizes that the room was accessible to staff members and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) personnel.

March 20, 2025: Transfer Proposal

• Chief Justice Upadhyaya submits photographs, videos, and other materials related to the fire incident to CJI Khanna.
• CJI Khanna informs him of a proposal to transfer Justice Varma back to his parent High Court—the Allahabad High Court.
• Chief Justice Upadhyaya agrees with this proposal.

March 21, 2025: Media Coverage & Political Repercussions

• The Times of India reports on the fire and allegations of burnt cash recovery from Justice Varma’s residence.
• A full-court meeting of Supreme Court judges is convened, leading to:
  • The initiation of an in-house inquiry against Justice Varma.
  • A directive for Chief Justice Upadhyaya to submit a detailed report.
• The five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court delay their scheduled sitting by 45 minutes, fueling speculation that a Collegium meeting took place.
• In the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh raises the issue and urges Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar to implement reforms enhancing judicial accountability.
• More than fifty MPs express concerns over the controversy.
• Chief Justice Upadhyaya submits an official letter to CJI Khanna, stating that:
  • The storeroom was accessible only to residents, staff, and security personnel.
  • Given the circumstances, a deeper probe into the matter was necessary.
• Amid the intensifying scrutiny, Justice Varma takes leave for the day.
• The Allahabad High Court Bar Association strongly objects to Justice Varma’s proposed transfer.
  • Association President Anil Tiwari issues a statement, saying,
    “Allahabad High Court is not a trash bin where controversial judges can be sent.”
• In response, the Supreme Court issues a clarification, stating:
  • No official Collegium recommendation for Justice Varma’s transfer has been made yet.
  • The transfer proposal is independent of the ongoing in-house inquiry.

March 22, 2025: Formal Inquiry Initiated

• CJI Khanna forms a three-member committee to investigate the allegations, comprising:
  • Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court)
  • Justice GS Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court)
  • Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of the Karnataka High Court)
• Justice Upadhyaya is instructed not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma.
• The Delhi High Court directs Delhi Police to retrieve:
  • Call Detail Records (CDR) and Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDR) of Justice Varma’s mobile phone (last 6 months).
  • Details of all security personnel posted at his residence during the same period.
• The Supreme Court publicly releases the preliminary inquiry report, including:
  • Viral videos linked to the controversy.
  • Justice Varma’s formal response, where he:
    • Denies all allegations.
    • Suggests that the controversy is part of a broader conspiracy.
    • Requests an independent probe into his judicial record and integrity.

March 24, 2025: Judicial Work Withdrawn & Impeachment Demands

• The Delhi High Court officially withdraws all judicial work from Justice Varma.
• The Allahabad High Court Bar Association passes a resolution seeking Justice Varma’s impeachment.
  • Lawyers abstain from judicial work in protest.
• The Supreme Court Collegium officially recommends Justice Varma’s repatriation to the Allahabad High Court, clarifying that the decision was taken in two separate meetings (March 20 & March 24).
• In response, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association announces an indefinite strike starting March 25.

With the controversy reaching the highest levels of the judiciary and political establishment, the case of Justice Yashwant Varma remains under intense scrutiny. The judicial, legal, and political ramifications of this unprecedented episode are yet to fully unfold, with further developments expected in the coming weeks.

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