Preliminary inquiry initiated against Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi HC after cash found in house

NEW DELHI: A preliminary inquiry has been initiated against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court following a controversy over the alleged recovery of the stash of cash from his official residence in Delhi.

After the preliminary inquiry, Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya will submit the report to the Supreme Court Collegium. “As of now, a preliminary inquiry has been initiated to look into the allegations against the judge”, sources from the Supreme Court said.

#WATCH | Delhi | On SC Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi HC to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Former President of Supreme Court Bar Association, Vikas Singh says,”It is a very serious matter because people… pic.twitter.com/xR0BjgHT37

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

If the allegations are found genuine and serious after the preliminary inquiry report, an in-house committee procedure will begin. According to the reports, a fire at the judge’s house inadvertently led to the firefighter’s recovery of cash.

The Supreme Court sources said that the Supreme Court Collegium will take follow-up action against Justice Varma “if and as required.”

#WATCH | Delhi | On the Supreme Court Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal says, “…The issue of corruption… pic.twitter.com/hPQPqeT57t

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, met on Thursday and unanimously made the recommendations of Justice Varma’s transfer to Centre government to his parent High Court of Allahabad after an adverse report about alleged recovery of cash during a fire at his residence.

The transfer is not the final step and is only a preliminary action; the authorities are considering further actions as per the law. “Supreme Court Collegium met, and CJI took note of the issue. Transfer is not a finality, it’s a process. In the interest of the institution, it’s just a step. Further action if and as required in the future will be taken”, the sources added.

#WATCH | On SC Collegium recommending transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi HC to his parent High Court in Allahabad after an adverse report against him, Retired Justice SN Dhingra says “What is there to say in this. Corruption in Judiciary is well known. Not just from… pic.twitter.com/tZSakftp8o

— ANI (@ANI) March 21, 2025

A High Court judge can be removed from office only through an impeachment motion passed by Parliament. Media reports said the cash was found initially by fire fighters when a fire broke out in the judge’s residence on March 14. The judge was not present at his house at that time.

In the Delhi High Court, members of the Bar brought up the issue before High Court Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and requested him to take action. The Chief Justice replied that judges are aware of the issue. (ANI)