New Delhi [India]: Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Renuka Chowdhury on Monday submitted Adjournment Motion notices in Parliament, demanding a discussion on the ongoing probe into Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma over cash allegedly recovered from his residence.
In their notice, they emphasized the need for government clarification and accountability, stating, “It is essential that this issue is thoroughly discussed and the truth be laid bare for the people of India.”
The controversy began after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14, leading fire tenders to inadvertently discover a large amount of cash. The judge was not present at the time of the incident.
Adding to the concerns, sanitation workers in the area later reported finding burnt pieces of ₹500 currency notes near the judge’s residence. “We were cleaning here 4-5 days back and collecting garbage when we found some small pieces of burnt ₹500 notes,” said Inderjeet, a sanitation worker.
In response to the allegations, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The panel includes:
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana High Court)
- Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court)
- Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court)
Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay conducted a preliminary inquiry and found that the case warrants a deeper probe. The Supreme Court later released both the inquiry report and Justice Varma’s response.
Justice Yashwant Varma denied all allegations, calling it a conspiracy to frame and malign him. He asserted that neither he nor his family members ever kept cash in the storeroom where it was allegedly found. He also clarified that the room in question was an outhouse and not the main building where he resides.
Following directives from the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Varma has been instructed to preserve all communication on his phone, including messages, conversations, and data, as the probe continues.
The matter has now taken a political turn, with the Congress party demanding an open discussion in Parliament, increasing pressure on the judiciary and the government to ensure transparency.