By The Sampadak Express
Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, has strongly rejected the allegations that he stored illicit cash at his official residence, describing the accusations as part of a “conspiracy” to frame him. This comes after firefighters reportedly discovered piles of burnt currency during their efforts to douse a fire at his residence in Lutyens Delhi on March 14. The incident led to an investigation, including an in-house inquiry initiated by the Chief Justice of India.
Allegations and Fire Incident
The fire at Justice Varma’s residence began around 11:35 PM on March 14, prompting the Delhi Fire Department to rush to the scene. Upon extinguishing the flames, firefighters reportedly found piles of charred currency in a storeroom. These findings led to a media frenzy and subsequent allegations against the judge for hoarding illicit cash.
In response to these allegations, Justice Varma submitted a detailed statement to Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice DK Upadhyay. He categorically denied that he or his family members had ever stored cash in the storeroom, describing the claims as “totally preposterous.” Justice Varma emphasized that the storeroom was not connected to the private areas of the house and was primarily used for storing unused furniture and other household items.”
I state unequivocally that no cash was ever placed in that storeroom either by me or any of my family members and strongly denounce the suggestion that the alleged cash belonged to us,” Justice Varma asserted.He further noted that the room where the supposed currency was found was freely accessible, often used by various individuals in the household, and was unlocked at all times.
He stressed that the storeroom was far removed from his residential quarters, further questioning the plausibility of storing large sums of money in such an exposed area.
Absence of Cash After the Incident
Justice Varma also pointed out the absence of any cash the following morning, March 15, when his residence was inspected. Despite claims of charred currency found on the premises, Varma asserted that no cash was visible when his home was restored to him after the fire department and police completed their investigation.
Additionally, Justice Varma highlighted that when the Chief Justice’s personal secretary visited the site on March 15, no cash was found, further raising doubts about the authenticity of the allegations.
Allegations of Conspiracy
Justice Varma suggested that the videos and photos shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner, which allegedly depicted sacks of burnt currency, were part of a deliberate attempt to malign his reputation. “I was totally shocked to see the contents of the video since that depicted something which was not found on site as I had seen it. This clearly appeared to be a conspiracy to frame and malign me,” Justice Varma said.
He also pointed out that earlier, in December 2024, unfounded allegations had circulated on social media, further cementing his belief that the fire incident and the cash discovery were part of a larger effort to discredit him.
Justice Varma argued that the circulating videos, even if genuine, were misleading as no sacks of burnt currency had been recovered or seized by the authorities. He asserted that neither his daughter, personal secretary (PS), nor household staff had seen any burnt currency when they accessed the storeroom.“
I stand by my consistent position that when they accessed the storeroom, there was no currency, burnt or otherwise, which could be seen,” he reiterated.
A Storeroom Used for Household Items
The storeroom in question, according to Justice Varma, was a general dump room for items like unused furniture and other sundry household goods. He found it implausible that anyone would store illicit currency in such an open, accessible space. He further highlighted that the storeroom was located far from the main living areas of his residence and could be easily accessed from the back gate of the house, raising questions about the practicality of storing significant sums of money in such a location.
In-House Inquiry and Judicial Work Suspension
In light of the serious allegations, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has ordered a three-member committee to conduct an in-house inquiry into the matter. Justice Varma’s response, along with the report and other materials from the Delhi High Court, have been reviewed as part of the inquiry process.
As a precautionary measure, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court has directed that no judicial work be assigned to Justice Varma while the inquiry is ongoing. This move ensures that the investigation is carried out without any potential conflict of interest.
Justice Varma’s statement, denying all charges and pointing out inconsistencies in the evidence, casts a shadow over the accusations, but the ongoing inquiry will seek to determine the truth of the matter.
As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the case will unfold and whether these allegations of cash hoarding are substantiated or debunked.
