Numerous witnesses observed a substantial stack of banknotes within Justice Yashwant Varma’s home, yet he neither reported it to the police nor notified judicial officials, as revealed by a Supreme Court-formed inquiry panel. The panel described the behavior of the Allahabad High Court judge as ‘unnatural’ and suggested his dismissal.
The committee examining the retrieval of a significant amount of money from Justice Yashwant Varma’s home determined that there is “adequate evidence” supporting the claims made against him. The committee discovered eyewitness testimonies and visual proof of a large amount of banknotes — some partially burned — at the judge’s residence in Delhi, and noted his ‘unusual’ behavior, particularly his neglect to report the event.
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The panel reviewed 55 witnesses, among them Justice Varma’s daughter, and uncovered supporting testimony from fire and police officials, along with videos and photos that displayed “a significant heap” of Rs 500 notes scattered on the storeroom floor.
One witness told the panel, “I was shocked and surprised by such a large amount of cash it was the first time I saw anything like it in my life”.
The committee stated that entry to the storeroom, where the fire ignited and the money was discovered, was managed solely by Justice Varma and his relatives. It mentioned that the room was subsequently cleaned, and the notes ‘vanished’.
A judge’s private secretary reportedly instructed fire officials to omit any reference to the currency notes in their official report. The fire services reported that a senior officer instructed them to stop investigating the issue as “higher ups were involved.”
