A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker has found the charges “proved” against Justice Yashwant Varma over the discovery of cash at his official residence, holding that his explanations were “evasive and unsatisfactory”.
The committee was headed by Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, with Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, and senior advocate of the Karnataka High Court B.V. Acharya being the other members.
The inquiry committee was constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act after allegations emerged following the discovery of burnt currency at Justice Varma’s official residence.
A fire had broken out at the residence of Justice Varma, then a judge of the Delhi High Court, on the night of March 14, 2025.
If the resignation is taken as accepted, the removal proceedings against Justice Varma would virtually become infructuous.
A three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Lok Sabha Speaker has found the charges “proved” against Justice Yashwant Varma over the discovery of cash at his official residence, holding that his explanations were “evasive and unsatisfactory”.
The committee’s report, tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday, said Justice Varma had failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the presence, source or ownership of the cash found in the storeroom of his official residence.
The committee was headed by Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, with Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Justice Shree Chandrashekhar, and senior advocate of the Karnataka High Court B.V. Acharya being the other members.
The panel also found that material evidence at the site had not been properly secured or preserved, and that the evidentiary condition of the storeroom had been disturbed before it was lawfully sealed and inspected.
“Evasive and unsatisfactory“
The committee said Justice Varma’s explanation did not demonstrate the “candour, transparency and institutional responsibility” expected of a judge in such circumstances. “It remained evasive and unsatisfactory when tested against the evidence of independent official witnesses and corroborative material,” the committee said.
In its consolidated findings on the three articles of charge, the panel recorded: “The Committee therefore records its final findings that Articles of charges I, II and III are proved.”
The report, submitted in two volumes, contains the oral and documentary evidence gathered during the inquiry. Earlier, the panel submitted its findings to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in May.
The inquiry committee was constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act after allegations emerged following the discovery of burnt currency at Justice Varma’s official residence.
A fire had broken out at the residence of Justice Varma, then a judge of the Delhi High Court, on the night of March 14, 2025. Firefighters responding to the blaze allegedly found large quantities of burnt currency in a storeroom. Nearly 200 MPs subsequently moved a motion seeking his removal from office.
Also read: Justice Yashwant Varma row: The future of inquiry amid his resignation
Justice Varma has since resigned, but his resignation has not yet been notified by the Union Law Ministry. His name continues to appear on the Allahabad High Court website, although the resignation of a judge of the higher judiciary is deemed to be accepted.
If the resignation is taken as accepted, the removal proceedings against Justice Varma would virtually become infructuous.
