Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has submitted an in-house inquiry report on Justice Yashwant Varma to the President of India and the Prime Minister, following an investigation by a three-judge panel regarding the alleged discovery of unauthorized cash currency notes at Justice Varma’s official residence.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has officially forwarded the report of a three-member committee that conducted an in-house inquiry into allegations involving Justice Yashwant Varma. The report, along with Justice Varma’s response, has been sent to the President of India and the Prime Minister for further consideration.
Read also: Supreme Court Directs Grant of Disability Pension to Army Veteran Diagnosed with Schizophrenia
According to the Supreme Court’s press release:
"Chief Justice of India, in terms of the In-House Procedure, has written to Hon'ble the President of India and Hon'ble the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith copy of the 3-Member Committee report dated 03.05.2025 along with the letter/response dated 06.05.2025 received from Mr Justice Yashwant Varma."
Background of the Inquiry
The in-house inquiry was initiated after reports surfaced about a significant amount of cash being accidentally discovered in a store-room at the out-house of Justice Varma’s official residence during a firefighting operation. At the time, Justice Varma was a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court. Following the controversy, he was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, his parent High Court, and his judicial work was withdrawn.
Read also: Supreme Court Issues Split Verdict on Guilt of Ex-TN Minister’s Wife in Disproportionate Assets Case
The decision to conduct the in-house inquiry was based on a preliminary report submitted by Chief Justice DK Upadhyay of the Delhi High Court, who noted that the matter required a deeper investigation.
In his response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Justice Varma denied any connection to the cash allegedly discovered. He stated that the store-room was accessible to the staff, remained unlocked, and that he was not present in Delhi during the incident. He further described the allegations as a "conspiracy to frame" him.
The submission of the inquiry report to the President indicates that the allegations may have been found credible, at least at a preliminary level. As per the in-house procedure:
- If the inquiry finds substance in the allegations, the CJI can advise the judge to resign or opt for voluntary retirement.
- If the judge refuses, the CJI can request the President and the Prime Minister to initiate removal proceedings under Article 124(4) read with Article 218 of the Constitution.
The Supreme Court has also taken steps towards public transparency by making the documents and reports related to the incident publicly available, including photographs and videos showing burning cash.
