Cash Row: Bar Associations Demand Criminal Probe Against Justice Yashwant Varma

SAKSHI PARDHE

27 MARCH 2025

In March 2025, a significant controversy emerged involving Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court. Following a fire at his official residence on March 14, firefighters reportedly discovered a large amount of unaccounted cash in the form of burnt currency notes stored in multiple sacks.

In response to these allegations, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member committee to conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the matter. The committee comprises Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court; Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court; and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court. During the inquiry, Justice Varma’s judicial duties have been suspended. ​

Justice Varma has refuted the allegations, asserting that neither he nor his family members placed any cash in the storeroom where the money was allegedly found. He described the situation as a conspiracy to malign him.

Furthermore, reports have surfaced linking Justice Varma to the 2018 Simbhaoli Sugar Mill fraud case. In that case, he was named as an accused in a ₹97 crore fraud involving the misappropriation of loans intended for farmers. However, the investigation into that matter was closed following a Supreme Court directive in 2024.

As of now, the inquiry into the cash discovery at Justice Varma’s residence is ongoing. The committee’s findings will determine the subsequent course of action. The judiciary emphasizes adherence to due process and the principles of natural justice in addressing these serious allegations