Cash recovery case: LS probe panel finds Justice Yashwant Varma guilty

A Lok Sabha inquiry panel has concluded that the charges against Justice Yashwant Varma were established in connection with the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence.

According to the panel’s findings, Justice Varma’s explanation regarding the cash was found to be evasive and unsatisfactory. The committee also said he had failed to provide a convincing account of how the money came to be in a storeroom at his residence or who owned it.

The panel further noted that material evidence linked to the alleged cash recovery was neither properly secured nor preserved and that the storeroom had been disturbed.

The report of the inquiry committee, which was constituted after removal proceedings were initiated against Justice Varma, was tabled in both Houses of Parliament on Wednesday. The Secretaries General of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha placed the report before their respective Houses.

The findings, spread across two volumes, include oral testimonies and documentary evidence collected during the investigation. The three-member committee had submitted its report to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in May.

The controversy dates back to the night of March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence. Fire personnel called to the premises allegedly found a large quantity of burnt currency notes in a storeroom.

Justice Varma subsequently resigned, making the parliamentary removal proceedings largely redundant. However, his resignation has not yet been formally notified by the Law Ministry.

At the time of the controversy, Justice Varma was serving as a judge of the Delhi High Court. He was later sent back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court.

An earlier in-house inquiry constituted by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had concluded that Justice Varma exercised either active or tacit control over the storeroom where the cash was allegedly found.

In July 2025, more than 200 Members of Parliament signed a motion seeking his removal. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla subsequently constituted a three-member Judges Inquiry Committee in August to examine the allegations.