Senior advocate Kapil Sibal targeted the central government, questioning the investigation against Justice Yashwant Verma. He stated that preparing a report without hearing the judge is against justice.
Yashwant Verma: Senior advocate Kapil Sibal has raised questions regarding the investigation by the central government and the Supreme Court against Justice Yashwant Verma. He alleges that the report was prepared without hearing the judge, which is against judicial process and transparency.
Cash Found at the Delhi High Court Judge's Residence
An investigation was initiated after a fire incident at the residence of then Delhi High Court judge, Yashwant Verma, in March 2025. During the extinguishing of the fire, cash was reportedly found at his outhouse in Delhi. Following this incident, a three-member investigation committee was formed by the Supreme Court. Kapil Sibal has now bly reacted to this investigation by the central government and the Supreme Court. He has called it an attempt to put pressure on the judiciary.
Sibal said - "The Judge was not heard"
Rajya Sabha MP and senior advocate Kapil Sibal said on Sunday that Justice Verma was not even given an opportunity to be heard before preparing the report against him. He said that this is not only wrong but also against the basic principles of justice.
Sibal said, "When you investigated and prepared the report, you didn't even listen to the judge. This is a violation of the principles of transparency and fairness. If the government has any objections, it should act in a constitutional manner, by bringing a motion of impeachment through Parliament."
Plot to bring back NJAC?
Kapil Sibal also questioned the central government's intentions in this matter. He said that all this is happening at a time when the government is trying to bring back the NJAC (National Judicial Appointments Commission).
Sibal says that this attempt by the government will affect the independence of the judiciary. He alleged that through such investigative processes, the government wants to put pressure on judicial institutions.
Also gave the example of Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav
Sibal, while highlighting another case, spoke of double standards in the judicial process. He cited the example of Allahabad High Court Judge Shekhar Kumar Yadav, against whom the impeachment motion investigation has been pending for the past six months.
He said that the Rajya Sabha Secretariat has stalled the investigation on technical grounds and is delaying formalities like signature verification. Sibal asked, "Isn't this a double standard?"
Who all are included in the investigation committee?
The following judges are included in the three-member committee formed by the Supreme Court:
- Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court
- Justice GS Sandhawalia, Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court
- Justice Anu Sivaraman, Karnataka High Court
This committee had submitted its report to the Prime Minister and the President last month. However, the contents of this report have not been made public yet.
