Published on: 19th June, 2025 22:11 IST
In a dramatic and unprecedented turn for India’s higher judiciary, a three-judge inquiry panel has recommended impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court. The panel found substantial evidence linking him to a fire incident at his official government residence in Delhi, where a large quantity of burnt ₹500 notes was discovered in a locked storeroom.
The panel was constituted on March 22, 2025, by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and included Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab and Haryana High Court), Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court). In its 64-page report, the committee concluded that the cash stash was located in a space that was “covertly or actively” under the control of Justice Varma and his family members.
The Fire and Aftermath
The incident occurred late at night on March 14, 2025, at 30 Tughlak Crescent—Justice Varma’s official residence. Around 11:35 PM, fire officials responded to a blaze in the storeroom. Multiple eyewitnesses, including firefighters and police officers, testified to finding charred stacks of ₹500 currency notes. “There was a large pile of cash in front of me, and I was stunned by the volume,” one fire officer reportedly stated.
Photographs and videos submitted as evidence, many with geolocation data, supported the testimonies. One video, now widely circulated and verified, captures Station Officer Manoj Mehlawat saying, “Mahatma Gandhi me aag lag rahi hai”—a pointed reference to the ₹500 notes featuring Mahatma Gandhi’s image.
Inquiry Panel’s Findings
The panel framed its inquiry around three core questions:
- Was burnt cash found in the storeroom? – Yes, as confirmed by visual and testimonial evidence.
- Was the storeroom within premises under Justice Varma’s control? – Yes, the location was part of his official residence.
- Did Justice Varma provide a satisfactory explanation for the cash? – No, the panel noted a failure to justify the presence of the currency.
The report further stated that the cash was removed by trusted domestic workers and Justice Varma’s Private Secretary, Rajinder Singh Karki, in the early hours of March 15. Witnesses and video footage suggested Karki actively attempted to downplay the presence of money and even directed that no recordings be made of the cash.
Justice Varma’s Response
Justice Varma, who was in Bhopal during the fire, strongly refuted the allegations. In a detailed 101-page rebuttal, he criticized the panel’s approach as biased and unjust, arguing that the burden of proof was unfairly placed on him. He claimed that the inquiry presumed guilt and that he was made to defend himself against unverified accusations.
He further questioned the lack of efforts to recover CCTV footage and expressed skepticism over the panel’s dismissal of his claim that the incident may have been orchestrated to malign him. However, the panel deemed his conspiracy theory “unsupported and unpersuasive.”
Ethical Standards and Public Trust
Citing the Restatement of Values of Judicial Life (1997), the inquiry emphasized that judges must uphold the highest standards of integrity, both in their professional and personal lives. “Any lapse in this regard is a serious breach of public trust,” the panel warned, urging firm action.
What Lies Ahead
Although Justice Varma has been transferred back to the Allahabad High Court, he currently has no judicial responsibilities. Despite the severity of the findings, he has neither resigned nor sought voluntary retirement.
With the panel’s recommendation now on record, the ball is in the court of the Supreme Court and constitutional authorities, who will decide whether to initiate formal impeachment proceedings—something that has occurred only a few times in Indian judicial history.