Former supreme court judge Justice Markandey Katju raised doubts over the allegations against Justice Yashwant Verma, calling it a conspiracy. He suggested that the money was planted to frame him, rather than being a genuine bribe. Katju also hinted at the possible involvement of someone from Verma’s staff in the incident. This statement highlights a different perspective amid the ongoing controversy.
New Delhi: In light of corruption allegations and the discovery of burnt currency notes at Justice Yashwant Verma’s home following an arson attack, Former supreme court judge Justice Markandey Katju’s recent post offers a different viewpoint on the situation.
Markandey Katju said,
“Today, I spoke with several lawyers in Delhi about Justice Yashwant Verma.”
They all unanimously said two things:
- As a judge, he had an excellent reputation. He was patient, impartial, and deeply knowledgeable about the law.
- Throughout his tenure, his integrity was never questioned.
This incident clearly appears to be a conspiracy. If someone genuinely wanted to bribe him with a large amount, would they have done it in such a crude manner by stuffing cash into sacks, making it easy to be caught?
Justice Katju remarked,
It seems that the money was deliberately placed to frame him, and someone from his staff might have been involved.
Also Read: Notable Judgments by Justice Yashwant Varma: Delhi High Court
Various speculations are being made about the intentions behind this conspiracy.
A fire broke out at Justice Varma’s home on the evening of March 14, during which unaccounted cash was inadvertently found by firefighters.
A video depicting the recovery of the burnt cash was reportedly shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner with the Chief Justice of the High Court.
At the time of the incident, Justice Varma and his wife were traveling in Madhya Pradesh, leaving only their daughter and elderly mother at home. On March 21, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) initiated an internal investigation into the allegations, appointing a three-member committee to carry out the inquiry.
The Central Government announced the transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court back to his original position at the Allahabad High Court. This decision followed a recommendation from the Supreme Court Collegium made on March 24.
Additionally, The Supreme Court of India directed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court not to assign any judicial responsibilities to Justice Yashwant Varma.