In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court of India has made public an in-house inquiry report concerning the alleged discovery of a significant amount of cash at the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma. The report, uploaded on the SC website, includes photos and videos from the storeroom where the cash was reportedly found during a firefighting operation on the night of Holi, March 14. Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has since formed a three-member committee to further investigate the matter, while Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya has been instructed not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma. The judge, however, has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to malign him.
The inquiry report, prepared by Justice Upadhyaya, mentions semi-burnt stacks of Indian currency found among the debris after the fire. While the judge and his family have denied any connection to the cash, the report states that access to the affected room was limited to residents, domestic staff, and CPWD personnel. The Supreme Court’s investigation panel includes Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, and Karnataka High Court Judge Anu Sivaraman. Meanwhile, discussions regarding Justice Varma’s possible transfer to the Allahabad High Court are ongoing, with the Supreme Court collegium reviewing responses from relevant stakeholders.
The case has sparked nationwide debate, with opposition leaders from the Congress party calling for judicial accountability and expressing concerns over potential executive interference in the judiciary. Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala stated that the incident has shaken public confidence in the legal system and urged the Supreme Court to take strong measures. Justice Varma, who has served as a judge in the Allahabad and Delhi High Courts, currently handles cases related to GST, company appeals, and sales tax. As the in-house inquiry progresses, legal experts stress the importance of maintaining transparency and ensuring that judicial integrity remains intact.
