New Delhi: A judicial panel investigating allegations of cash being discovered at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma has officially submitted its report to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, according to a statement from the Supreme Court.
The three-member committee — comprising Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court), Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge, Karnataka High Court) — finalized its findings on May 3, 2025, with the report handed to the CJI the following day.
The inquiry was initiated by CJI Khanna on March 22, following serious allegations that partially burnt sacks of cash were found at Justice Varma’s official residence during his tenure at the Delhi High Court.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Justice Varma was sworn in as a judge of the Allahabad High Court on April 5, under highly unusual circumstances. Breaking from tradition, the oath-taking was conducted in private, drawing widespread attention and criticism from the legal community.
Court insiders report that Justice Varma has not yet been assigned any judicial or administrative duties in Allahabad, deepening questions about the rationale behind the swift swearing-in and transfer from Delhi.
Adding to the controversy, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed before the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court, urging the judiciary to postpone the appointment until the inquiry had been concluded.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association also voiced strong objections, stating in a public letter, “We are not a dumping ground,” and calling on the Supreme Court Collegium to embrace greater transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.
The findings of the internal panel have not yet been made public, but Justice Varma’s position remains tenuous. Legal analysts suggest that the case highlights deeper issues surrounding judicial integrity and the opaque nature of judge transfers and appointments in India.
Justice Varma, a 1992 law graduate from Rewa University, has had a career focused primarily on civil and constitutional law. He served as special counsel for the Allahabad High Court before being elevated to the bench in 2012.
With public scrutiny intensifying and legal institutions under pressure, all eyes now turn to Chief Justice Khanna and the next steps in addressing one of the more serious judicial controversies in recent memory.