By The Sampadak Express
A Supreme Court-appointed panel has recommended the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma following a controversial cash discovery at his official residence in Delhi. The probe report cited his conduct as “unnatural” and lacking transparency, triggering serious concerns over propriety.
The incident came to light after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14. Firefighters and police personnel discovered large amounts of cash in a store room. At the time of the incident, Justice Varma was reportedly away. Soon after, the Supreme Court transferred him from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court.
Sources have confirmed to The Sampadak Express that a motion for his impeachment will be tabled in the upcoming Parliament session.
Key Findings of the Inquiry Panel
1. No Visit to Site of Cash Discovery
Despite returning to Delhi after the fire incident, Justice Varma and his wife did not visit the affected store room even once. The judge said he was focused on the safety of his family, but the panel termed his behavior “unusual”, stating that most people would assess damage personally under such circumstances.
2. Communication Only Via WhatsApp
The panel noted that Justice Varma’s staff communicated with him solely through WhatsApp on the night of the incident. As the platform is encrypted, investigators were unable to access chat logs to verify claims or timelines.
3. No Police Complaint Despite ‘Conspiracy’ Claim
Justice Varma did not file a police complaint or formally report the matter to the Chief Justice, even though he privately alleged a conspiracy against him. The panel stated that such serious allegations demanded formal action, which was conspicuously absent.
4. Silent Acceptance of Transfer
The judge accepted his transfer to the Allahabad High Court within hours of the proposal, without asking for clarification or contesting the move. The committee found this unusual, noting that he had time until the next morning to respond.
Other Red Flags Identified
Non-functional CCTV Cameras: Surveillance equipment monitoring the store room was reportedly not working. Justice Varma claimed it was under the security team’s purview and he had no knowledge of the malfunction.
Video Evidence: An 11-second video recorded around midnight on March 15 by a PCR officer shows bundles of currency notes inside the store room. In the video, someone can be heard saying, “Note hi note hain, dekho dikh rahein hain”
The findings have intensified scrutiny on the judiciary’s internal processes, and if the impeachment motion is passed, it could mark a rare instance of disciplinary action against a sitting High Court judge in India.
