Cash-at-home row: In-house indicts Justice Yashwant Varma

The three-judge committee constituted to investigate the alleged recovery of cash at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, has indicted the former Delhi High Court judge in its report submitted to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna.

Sources said that Justice Varma would have to tender his resignation in the wake of indictment.

In case he refused to do so, the in-house committee report would be sent to the President recommending his impeachment.

CJI Khanna has given time till May 9 to Justice Varma to respond to him.

In the wake of the alleged recovery of cash from the outhouse of Justice Varma’s official residence during a firefighting operation on March 14, the CJI constituted a three-judge committee on March 22, to conduct an in-house probe.

During the incident, Justice Varma was a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court. He was later transferred to his parent High Court at Allahabad.

The CJI sought a preliminary report from Justice DK Upadhyay, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, who said that the entire matter required a deeper investigation.

Following the preliminary report, the CJI constituted the three-judge committee.

In his reply to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Justice Varma denied the knowledge of cash, stating that the store-room in the outhouse was accessible to the staff and was unlocked.

He further said that when the fire operation took place, he was not in Delhi. Pointing out that no cash was seized during the firefighting operation, Justice Varma termed the entire episode as a ‘conspiracy’ to frame him.

The Supreme Court uploaded the reports and the documents related to the fire incident, including the photos and videos showing burning cash, on its website.