CategoriesIn a detailed 6-page clarification to Justice Upadhyaya, who led the preliminary investigation into the allegations, Justice Varma stated that his staff, present on the night of the fire, did not see any currency at the site.
Justice Varma has firmly denied allegations regarding cash being stored in his residence, stating that neither he nor his family placed any money in the storeroom. In response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, he clarified that any such claims are baseless and misleading. The statement comes amid growing scrutiny, as legal experts and officials continue to assess the situation.
New Delhi: Justice Yashwant Varma Clarifies Details on Fire Incident at Storeroom
In a detailed six-page clarification to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya, Justice Yashwant Varma addressed concerns surrounding the recent fire incident. He emphasized that the storeroom where the fire broke out was separate from his main residence, left unlocked, and accessible to all. Justice Varma further stated that his staff, who were present at the scene on the night of the incident, saw no cash or currency at the site. The clarification aims to dispel any speculation and provide transparency regarding the unfortunate event.
Justice Varma has strongly denied allegations linking him to the recent controversy over burnt cash reportedly found at his residence. Criticizing the media for inaccurate reporting, he expressed disappointment that no proper investigation was conducted before implicating him.
In an official response uploaded on the Supreme Court portal on Saturday night, Justice Varma stated unequivocally that neither he nor any of his family members had placed any cash in the storeroom, rejecting any insinuation that the alleged money belonged to them.
Following the preliminary report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyay, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member panel on Saturday to investigate the matter. Justice Varma’s response was taken into account before the committee was formed. If the panel finds substance in the allegations, CJI Khanna may request Justice Varma’s resignation. Should he refuse, the Chief Justice may have to forward the findings to Parliament for possible impeachment proceedings.
Justice Varma also referenced a report prepared by Chief Justice Upadhyay’s secretary, who inspected the site on March 15. He emphasized that during this inspection, no cash in any form was found at the scene, further questioning the credibility of the allegations against him.
The investigation is now underway, with the Supreme Court closely monitoring the developments in the case.
Following an inspection and under the instructions of Chief Justice Upadhyay, the gutted storeroom has remained untouched, as stated in the official response. Regarding the debris, which was deemed unsalvageable, it was removed but is still stored within the house. He firmly dismissed any claims suggesting that currency was taken from the storeroom.
Clarifying further, he emphasized that no cash was found in the areas actively occupied by his family. He stated that the room where the fire occurred, and where money was allegedly discovered, was separate from their living quarters.
Addressing viral videos and photos showing burnt currency, Justice Varma revealed that he first saw them on March 17 upon meeting Chief Justice Upadhyay after returning from Lucknow. On that same day, he had already expressed concerns about a possible conspiracy behind the incident.
The letter also outlines a series of events dating back to December last year, when what he described as “unfounded allegations” linking him to a cheating case surfaced on social media.
Justice Varma reaffirmed that neither he nor his family had any connection to the cash in question, stressing that all their financial transactions were properly documented and conducted through official banking channels, including UPI and card payments.
No Cash Found with My Staff, Allegations Are a Conspiracy to Frame: Justice Varma Responds
In a letter to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, he stated that both he and his wife were not present at the time of the incident. He also mentioned that the storeroom remains accessible to everyone.
Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma has refuted claims that wads of burnt currency were found and removed following a fire at his residence on the night of March 14-15. In his response to Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, Justice Varma clarified that no cash remnants were shown to his staff after the fire was extinguished.
According to Justice Varma, the fire broke out around midnight, prompting his daughter and private secretary to alert the fire department—calls that are duly recorded. Due to safety concerns, all household members and staff were asked to stay away from the site while the fire was being controlled. When they returned after the blaze was put out, they found no evidence of burnt currency or cash at the scene.
In his statement, Justice Varma further asserted that his staff confirmed there was no removal of any alleged currency from the premises. He clarified that only debris and salvageable items were cleared from the site, which remain stored separately within the residence and can be inspected.
His response aims to dismiss the allegations and provide transparency regarding the events that unfolded at his residence during the fire incident.
A day after the Supreme Court Collegium proposed the transfer of Delhi High Court judge Justice Varma on March 20, following an adverse report regarding the discovery of cash at his residence, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna took swift action.
CJI Khanna directed Delhi High Court Chief Justice Upadhyaya to obtain a written explanation from Justice Varma regarding the incident. The Chief Justice specifically inquired about the presence of money in a room on his premises, demanding an explanation for its source and ownership. Additionally, he sought clarity on who had removed the burnt cash from the room on the morning of March 15.
Furthermore, the CJI instructed the High Court Chief Justice to ensure that Justice Varma does not dispose of his mobile phones or delete, alter, or modify any messages, conversations, or data that could be relevant to the investigation.
This development adds a significant layer of scrutiny to the situation as judicial authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the cash discovery.
He stated that in a judge’s life, reputation and character are of utmost importance. However, he emphasized that his reputation has been severely tarnished and irreparably damaged. He refuted the baseless allegations made against him, asserting that they were built on mere speculation and unproven assumptions. He further clarified that the claims regarding the alleged cash were unfounded and did not belong to him.
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