Shocking Revelation: Supreme Court Confirms Cash Discovery at Delhi HC Judge Yashwant Varma’s Residence, Unveils Startling Video Footage

In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has officially confirmed the discovery of cash at the Delhi residence of Justice Yashwant Varma following a fire on March 14. The revelation comes after the release of an internal inquiry report by the Delhi High Court, ordered by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya. The report, dated March 21, called on Justice Varma to explain the presence of money found in his official bungalow. Alongside the report, the Supreme Court also published videos and photographs supplied by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, illustrating a firefighter retrieving partially burnt wads of cash from plastic bags. In one video, a person can be heard saying “Mahatma Gandhi mein aag lag gayi,” referring to the fire-damaged notes featuring Gandhi’s image.

Justice Varma, in a response to Chief Justice Upadhyaya, has firmly denied these allegations, emphasizing that no currency was recovered from the areas of the property actively used by his family. His rebuttal, however, has not slowed the proceedings as Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna swiftly set up a three-member committee to further investigate the allegations against the sitting judge. The committee is comprised of Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court.

Simultaneously, the Delhi High Court Chief Justice has temporarily refrained from assigning Justice Varma any new judicial responsibilities. As part of the inquiry process, all relevant documents, including the inquiry report and Justice Varma’s response, have been made publicly accessible via the Supreme Court’s website.

In an earlier move, the Supreme Court Collegium had proposed transferring Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, his original jurisdiction. This decision, made by the five-member Collegium, followed a review of the evidence, including video footage of the incident. Notably, the Supreme Court Registry has clarified that the proposal for Justice Varma’s transfer—where he will be ninth in seniority—remains distinct from the ongoing internal investigation conducted by the Delhi High Court.

Amidst this unfolding situation, the Supreme Court Registry has addressed the public, warning against the spread of misinformation and rumors regarding the incident. Assuring transparency, the Registry stated that the High Court’s investigation report would undergo thorough examination to determine any necessary actions moving forward. The formal submission of the report to the Chief Justice of India late on Friday underscores the gravity with which the judiciary is treating these allegations.

As the case continues to develop, the eyes of the nation and the judicial fraternity are closely monitoring the proceedings. The outcome of this investigation and the potential implications it holds for Justice Varma’s career and the reputation of the judiciary at large remain to be seen. This incident has inevitably sparked a dialogue on judicial accountability and transparency, marking a critical juncture for legal and ethical governance in the country.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/supreme-court-confirms-cash-found-at-delhi-hc-judge-yashwant-varmas-residence-during-fire-releases-video-footage-9900540/
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Publish Date: 2025-03-23 03:37:00