Justice Yashwant Varma has resigned as an Allahabad High Court judge, sending shockwaves across the legal fraternity. His exit comes amid serious corruption allegations linked to the recovery of burnt currency notes from his Delhi residence.
Allahabad High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma has submitted his resignation to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, amid serious allegations of corruption that have raised concerns within the legal community.
According to reports, Justice Varma is under scrutiny after burnt currency notes were allegedly recovered from his residence in Delhi. This incident has triggered widespread debate about judicial accountability and integrity, especially at a time when public trust in institutions remains crucial.
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In his letter addressed to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, Justice Varma stated,
“While I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which have constrained me to submit this missive, it is with deep anguish that I hereby tender my resignation from the office of Judge of the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, with immediate effect.
It has been an honour to serve in this office.”
The controversy traces back to March 14, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence in Delhi. During the incident, firefighters allegedly discovered unaccounted cash, including partially burnt currency notes. At the time of the fire, Justice Varma and his wife were travelling in Madhya Pradesh, while only his daughter and elderly mother were present at home. A video that later surfaced showed bundles of cash burning, intensifying public scrutiny.
Following the incident, allegations of corruption were levelled against Justice Varma. He, however, strongly denied all accusations and maintained that the episode appeared to be a conspiracy aimed at framing him.
Then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, initiated an in-house inquiry into the matter. On March 22, a three-member committee was constituted to investigate the allegations. The committee included Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia, and Karnataka High Court Justice Anu Sivaraman. The panel began its probe on March 25 and submitted its report on May 4.
After reviewing the findings, CJI Khanna reportedly asked Justice Varma to resign or face impeachment proceedings. When Justice Varma declined to step down at that stage, the CJI forwarded the committee’s report along with the judge’s response to the President and the Prime Minister, initiating the formal removal process. In the meantime, Justice Varma was repatriated to his parent High Court from the Delhi High Court, and his judicial work was withdrawn pending further action.
The matter also progressed in Parliament. In August 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla initiated proceedings for Justice Varma’s removal by setting up a Judges Inquiry Committee.
The panel initially comprised Supreme Court judge Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, and Senior Advocate B Vasudeva Acharya. Later, Bombay High Court Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar replaced Justice Shrivastava following his retirement on March 6.
In January this year, the Supreme Court of India declined to interfere with the ongoing inquiry proceedings. A Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma held that the process under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 had been duly followed and found no violation of fundamental rights.
With his resignation now submitted, the long-running controversy appears to have reached a crucial turning point, although its legal and institutional implications are likely to continue shaping discussions around judicial accountability in India.
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This development is likely to have broader implications for the judiciary, as it once again brings into focus the mechanisms for dealing with allegations against sitting judges. The case may also prompt renewed discussions on judicial reforms and oversight.
As of now, there has been no official confirmation regarding any criminal proceedings, but the seriousness of the allegations continues to attract attention from both legal circles and the general public.
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