New Delhi: The three-member committee appointed by the Supreme Court has confirmed the allegations of cash discovery against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma in its inquiry report submitted to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on May 4.
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 the official residence of Justice Varma, who was Delhi High Court judge at that time, from his official residence in the national capital following a fire at his official Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14.
CJI Khanna has sought Justice Varma’s reply following the principle of natural justice
CJI Khanna has forwarded the report of the three-member committee to Justice Varma and has sought his reply following the principle of natural justice and CJI Khanna is also learnt to have nudged the judge in question to step down in view of the critical findings in the report, sources told news agency PTI.
CJI Khanna likely to take the issue to its logical conclusion
The sources further told news agency PTI that CJI Khanna, who is set to demit office on May 13, is likely to take the issue to its logical conclusion and has informally discussed the findings of the three-member committee report with senior collegium members of the apex court.
Three-member committee submitted its report to CJI on May 4
The three-member committee 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.
The committee analysed evidence and recorded the statements of more than50 people, including the statements of Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and Delhi Fire Service chief who were among the first responders to the March 14 fire incident at Justice Varma’s official Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm. The committee found clear evidence to confirm the allegations that a huge stash of cash was found in the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official Delhi residence at the time of fire incident.
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 Justice Varma’s official residence. Justice Varma repeatedly denied the allegations in his response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice.
The controversy led to judicial work being taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi High Court and later his transfer from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work.
