Mumbai (Maharashtra), March 23: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday took a critical dig at the Centre over the ongoing controversy surrounding Justice Yashwant Varma, whose residence was allegedly found to have a large sum of cash, amid a fire that broke out at the house. Raut accused the judiciary of being under pressure and corrupt, using this incident as evidence of deeper systemic problems within the judicial system.
Raut addressed a press conference where he expressed concerns about the discovery of around Rs 15-Rs 20 crore at Justice Varma’s residence. He highlighted the ongoing investigation, noting that a video had been uploaded by both the Delhi Police Commissioner and the Chief Justice of India, showing the cash being burnt in a fire. However, Raut raised the question of the governance under which such an incident took place, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, who has often been vocal about anti-corruption efforts, saying, “na khayunga, na khane dunga” (I won’t partake in corruption, nor allow others to do so).
Raut went on to claim that the sum found at Justice Varma’s residence appeared to be the result of a single day’s earnings, which he described as a “grave and serious incident” that sheds light on corruption within the judiciary, especially in Delhi. “The cash found seems like it was a day’s earning,” he said. He also pointed to this as an example of judicial bias, claiming that Shiv Sena did not receive justice in the Supreme Court because the judiciary was under pressure and corrupt.
The controversy stems from a fire that broke out at Justice Varma’s residence on March 14. The fire led to the discovery of cash, which was initially reported to be around Rs 15-20 crore. Senior officials from the Delhi High Court later arrived at the scene, only to find that the money was no longer present, leading to further suspicions about the case.
In response to the incident, BJP leader and Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court, Nalin Kohli, called for transparency and a clear explanation into the matter. Kohli cautioned against tarnishing the entire judiciary due to the actions of a few, emphasizing that corruption, if found, should be addressed but not used to undermine the reputation of the entire judicial system.
The Supreme Court has also released an inquiry report conducted by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay into the controversy. The report states that the matter requires a deeper probe. Justice Yashwant Varma has denied the allegations and labeled them a conspiracy to frame him. He insisted that no cash was ever placed in the storeroom by him or his family, and the room where the cash was allegedly found was an outhouse, not the main residence.
In the wake of the controversy, Justice Varma has been instructed to preserve all communication on his phone, including conversations and messages, as part of the ongoing investigation. Despite the accusations, Justice Varma continues to deny any involvement and strongly rejects the allegations that the cash belonged to him or his family.
This case has sparked a wider debate on corruption and accountability within India’s judiciary, with political leaders calling for a thorough and transparent investigation.