New Delhi, 19 May (H.S.): The Supreme Court has agreed to an urgent hearing for a plea seeking the criminal prosecution of Justice Yashwant Varma, linked to the discovery of burnt cash in the storeroom of his bungalow after a fire on March 14. Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, along with A.G. Masih, told advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, the petitioner, that the case could be set for hearing on Wednesday, contingent upon rectifying defects highlighted by the court’s registry. Nedumpara had initially requested a hearing on Tuesday but notified the court of his unavailability.
The plea argues that if Justice Varma has indeed accrued wealth through corrupt practices, impeachment alone is insufficient. It emphasizes the gravity of the situation, stating that a judge accused of such crimes represents a severe breach of public justice. The petition insists that criminal proceedings must commence, calling for a thorough investigation to identify individuals involved in bribery and corruption related to judicial decisions.
It contends that the cash, both entirely and partially burnt, is unmistakably linked to corruption, in violation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. The lack of an official explanation for the absence of an FIR and inaction on criminal proceedings, which should have included seizing currency from the crime scene and arresting suspects, has raised significant concerns. The plea underscores that the matter must be treated with utmost seriousness and urgency in light of the implications for judicial integrity.
At the end of March, Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan dismissed another plea from the same petitioners, seeking an FIR against the Delhi Police regarding allegations of discovered cash. The court noted that an ongoing in-house inquiry could lead to an FIR if any wrongdoing was found, but now was not the appropriate time to consider the FIR registration. The petition, filed on March 14—the day unaccounted cash was reportedly identified—questioned the delay by authorities in releasing electronic records, suggesting a potential cover-up attempt.
The discovery of cash caused significant concern within the judiciary, leading then-Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna to form a three-member committee to investigate Justice Varma. During this inquiry, Justice Varma was transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court Collegium had suggested repatriating Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court. Recently, ex-Chief Justice Khanna forwarded the committee’s inquiry report to the President and Prime Minister of India. A press statement from the Supreme Court, dated May 8, indicated that the Chief Justice of India had communicated the findings of the inquiry panel, dated May 3, 2025, along with a response from Justice Yashwant Varma dated May 6, 2025. This ongoing situation highlights the tension surrounding the allegations and the judicial process involved in addressing them.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar
