Kanoon Ki Dastak
New Delhi, March 22, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has constituted a three-member committee to investigate allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court.
The committee comprises Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court.
The inquiry was ordered after a fire broke out in a storeroom at Justice Varma’s official residence at Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi, on the night of March 14, 2025. The fire incident, which was reported by the Delhi Police Commissioner to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), raised concerns over the presence of burnt currency notes found in the affected room.
Following initial reports, the CJI directed the Delhi High Court to seek an explanation from Justice Varma regarding the alleged presence of money at the site. He was asked to clarify:
1. How the cash ended up in the room.
2. The source of the money.
3. The identity of the person who removed the burnt currency from the site on March 15.
In his response, Justice Varma denied any involvement, asserting that the storeroom was freely accessible to staff, security personnel, and CPWD workers. He claimed that neither he nor his family had stored or removed any cash from the premises. He also raised concerns about a possible conspiracy against him.
The inquiry committee has been tasked with examining the police reports, security footage, and other documents related to the case. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court has been directed not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma until the probe is concluded.
This development has sparked debates about judicial accountability, with legal experts emphasizing the need for transparency in handling such cases. The Supreme Court is expected to take further action based on the committee’s findings.