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Informist, Monday, May. 5, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The three-member committee formed by the Supreme Court Sunday submitted its report to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, following its enquiry into allegations that a huge pile of cash was found at Allahabad High Court Justice Yashwant Varma's residence after a fire broke out at his place in March. Details of the report are not yet known.

 

Before the top court had formed a three-member committee, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya had initiated an in-house enquiry against Justice Varma, who was serving as the Delhi High Court's judge in March. According to his report, half-burnt cash was found in sacks in the room where the fire had started. The Supreme Court later uploaded photographs and videos of the burnt cash on its website. 

 

According to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Upadhyaya's report, the enquiry found no evidence suggesting that anyone other than the residents of the bungalow, the servants, gardeners, and possibly Central Public Works Department personnel had access to the room. Based on this, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Upadhyaya concluded that, prima facie, the matter required a more thorough investigation. After receiving the report, Chief Justice Khanna directed Justice Varma to explain the presence of the cash in the room, its source, and who had removed it. In his response, Justice Varma said that after the fire was extinguished and he returned to the scene, he found no cash or currency at the location. He denied placing cash in that storeroom, either personally or by any of his family members, and strongly rejected the suggestion that the cash in question belonged to him.  

 

Thereafter, the top court's collegium had transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court. Further, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had asked Allahabad High Court's Chief Justice Arun Bhansali not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma, when he assumed charge as a judge of that court.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Avishek Dutta

 

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