In the cash discovery row, a Supreme Court-appointed panel stated the storeroom where burnt cash was found was “under active control of Justice Yashwant Varma and family,” raising serious questions about the Allahabad High Court judge’s role.
New Delhi: A Supreme Court-appointed committee has indicted Allahabad High Court judge Yashwant Varma in a case involving the discovery of burnt cash, stating that access to the storeroom where the cash was found was under the active control of the judge and his family.
Sources indicate that the panel has uncovered evidence suggesting that the burnt cash was removed from the storeroom on May 15, following a fire incident.
Earlier this month, former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna communicated with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sharing the committee report along with Justice Varma’s response.
The panel, which reviewed various evidence, including electronic records, concluded that the allegations were serious enough to warrant proceedings for Justice Varma’s removal.
The committee analyzed the evidence and recorded statements from over 50 individuals, including Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and the chief of the Delhi Fire Services, who were among the first responders to the fire at Justice Varma’s official residence in Lutyen’s Delhi at 11:35 PM on March 14. At that time, Justice Varma was serving as a judge in the Delhi High Court.
Justice Varma has consistently denied the allegations in his responses to both the Delhi High Court chief justice and the Supreme Court-appointed panel.
On May 4, a panel of judges assigned to conduct an internal inquiry into allegations of cash being found at Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence submitted its report to then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna.
On the evening of March 14th, a fire erupted at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence. While Justice Varma and his wife were traveling in Madhya Pradesh, his daughter and elderly mother were present when the fire broke out. Firefighters responding to the scene reportedly discovered a substantial amount of unaccounted cash.
A video subsequently emerged depicting bundles of currency engulfed in flames, sparking allegations of corruption against Justice Varma. He refuted these accusations, suggesting a conspiracy to discredit him.
In response, the Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) launched an internal investigation, forming a three-member committee on March 22nd to conduct an inquiry.
The Delhi Police Commissioner shared the video of the burnt cash with the Chief Justice of the High Court. The Supreme Court later released the video to the public. In an unusual move, the Supreme Court also published a report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice concerning the incident, along with Justice Varma’s reply.
The Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to transfer Justice Varma amid this controversy faced significant opposition from lawyers’ associations in Uttar Pradesh. However, the Central government approved the transfer on March 28.
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.
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