Introduction:

In a recent development that has captured national attention, Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court is under scrutiny following allegations of unaccounted cash discovered at his official residence. The incident has prompted an in-house inquiry initiated by the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Sanjiv Khanna, reflecting the gravity of the situation.

Background of the Incident:

On the night of March 14, 2025, a fire broke out in the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official residence located in Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi. At that time, Justice Varma and his wife were in Bhopal, leaving his mother, daughter, and domestic staff at the residence. The fire was promptly reported by his personal secretary, leading to a swift response from the fire department. Upon extinguishing the fire, firefighters allegedly discovered 4-5 half-burnt gunny sacks containing Indian currency notes in the storeroom.:

Justice Varma’s Response

In his detailed response to Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Varma categorically denied any involvement with the alleged cash. He emphasized that neither he nor his family had ever placed cash in the storeroom, describing the allegations as “totally preposterous.” He further highlighted that the storeroom is a common area, accessible to domestic staff, gardeners, and CPWD workers, and is not part of his main residence.

Justice Varma also raised concerns about the authenticity of the evidence, stating that when he inspected the storeroom after the fire, no cash was present. He expressed shock upon viewing a video, shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner, purportedly showing burnt cash in the storeroom, suggesting it could be part of a conspiracy to malign him.

Chief Justice Upadhyaya’s Inquiry Report:

Following the incident, Chief Justice Upadhyaya conducted a preliminary inquiry and submitted a report to the Supreme Court. The report detailed the sequence of events, including the discovery of burnt currency notes by firefighters. It noted that there was no evidence of forced entry into the storeroom, which was used to store household items and was accessible to various individuals, including domestic staff and CPWD workers.

The report also included a video and photographs, provided by the Delhi Police Commissioner, showing semi-burnt cash allegedly found in the storeroom. Given the seriousness of the allegations, Chief Justice Upadhyaya recommended a deeper probe into the matter.

Supreme Court’s Actions:

In response to the inquiry report, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member committee to conduct an in-depth investigation into the allegations against Justice Varma. The committee comprises:

Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court

Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh.

Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka.

Additionally, the CJI directed that Justice Varma be relieved of his judicial duties pending the outcome of the inquiry.

Conclusion:

The allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma have raised serious concerns about judicial integrity and the potential for misconduct within the higher echelons of the judiciary. The swift actions taken by the Chief Justice of India, including the formation of an inquiry committee and the temporary removal of Justice Varma from judicial duties, underscore the importance of maintaining transparency and accountability in the judiciary. As the inquiry progresses, it is imperative that all findings are thoroughly examined to uphold public trust in the judicial system.