New Delhi, March 23 — The Supreme Court of India on Saturday released videos and photographs showing cash being recovered from the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, following a fire incident at his bungalow on March 14. The visuals, made public alongside a redacted internal report by the Delhi High Court, confirm for the first time that currency was found at the site.
The videos, shared by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora with Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, depict firefighters retrieving partially charred bundles of cash from plastic bags inside the judge’s residence. In one video, a firefighter is heard remarking, “Mahatma Gandhi mein aag lag gayi,” a reference to the image of Mahatma Gandhi on the burnt currency notes.
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In a letter dated March 21, Chief Justice Upadhyaya formally asked Justice Varma to account for the presence of cash found in the room of his official residence. In response, Justice Varma denied any wrongdoing, asserting that no currency was recovered from the portion of the bungalow occupied by him and his family. He, however, did not offer an explanation for the cash shown in the videos.
The release of the footage came shortly after Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. The panel comprises senior judges from the Punjab & Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka High Courts.
In its statement, the Supreme Court clarified that Justice Varma has been relieved of all judicial responsibilities for now. Moreover, the Court’s Collegium—comprising the CJI and four senior judges—recommended Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court, his parent court, after examining the fact-finding report and video evidence.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the proposed transfer is a distinct administrative decision, separate from the ongoing internal investigation. The statement also cautioned against misinformation and reaffirmed that the matter will proceed strictly in accordance with due process.
Key Points: Cash Recovery at Delhi HC Judge’s Residence
SC Releases Evidence: The Supreme Court made public videos and photographs showing cash being recovered from Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma’s official residence after a fire on March 14.
- Visuals Confirm Currency Haul: Footage shows firefighters retrieving partially burnt currency bundles from plastic bags inside the residence. One clip features a voice saying, “Mahatma Gandhi mein aag lag gayi,” referring to the burnt image of Gandhi on the notes.
- Internal Report Made Public: A redacted internal report by the Delhi High Court, released alongside the visuals, confirms for the first time that money was found at the scene.
- Justice Varma Denies Allegations: In response to a letter from Delhi HC Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, Justice Varma denied that any cash was found in the portion of the bungalow occupied by him or his family. He did not clarify the source of the money.
- CJI Orders Investigation: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-judge panel to investigate the incident. The committee includes senior judges from Punjab & Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Karnataka High Courts.
