New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has written to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cash recovery controversy involving Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
CJI Khanna has also forwarded to the President and Prime Minister the report of the three-member committee and the response of Justice Verma.
“Chief Justice of India, in terms of the in-house procedure, has written to Hon’ble the President of India and Hon’ble the Prime Minister of India enclosing therewith copy of the three-Member Committee report dated 03.05.2025 along with the letter/response dated 06.05.2025 received from Mr Justice Yashwant Varma,” the Supreme Court said.
Three-member committee confirmed allegations of cash discovery against Justice Varma
The three-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court confirmed the allegations of cash discovery against Justice Varma in its inquiry report submitted on May 4 to CJI Khanna, who had forwarded the three-member committee report to Justice Varma and had sought his reply.
CJI Khanna appointed a three-member committee on March 22
CJI Khanna appointed a three-member committee on March 22 to conduct an in-house inquiry into the allegations of reported discovery of huge stash of cash from Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi following a fire at his residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14.
The three-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court comprising Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Karnataka High Court judge Justice Anu Sivaraman submitted its report to the CJI on May 4.
Justice Varma was transferred to Allahabad High Court sans judicial work
Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya conducted a preliminary inquiry into the alleged discovery of cash at official residence of Justice Varma, who was a judge at the Delhi High Court at that time. Justice Varma, in his response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, repeatedly denied the allegations.
The controversy led to judicial work being taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi High Court and his transfer from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work.
