The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition of Justice Yashwant Varma. He had challenged the cash scandal and the validity of the investigation. The court said that the investigation process is valid and the conduct is not trustworthy.
Justice Varma Case: The Supreme Court has dismissed the petition filed by Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the ongoing investigation against him. This case emerged following a fire at his official residence in Delhi in March 2025 and the subsequent alleged recovery of cash.
What is the whole matter?
The incident of fire on the night of March 14 at his official residence in Lutyens' Delhi had shaken the entire judicial and administrative system. The fire broke out when Justice Yashwant Varma was not at home. His family members immediately informed the Delhi Fire Department, and the fire department promptly dispatched a team to control the fire.
Following this incident, media reports claimed that a large amount of cash was seen in the judge's house while extinguishing the fire. However, there was no immediate official confirmation of this. But based on the reports, the matter was taken seriously at the highest levels of the judiciary and the government.
CJI initiated the investigation
On March 20, the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sanjeev Khanna, convened an emergency meeting of the Collegium. Two important decisions were taken in this meeting. First, a proposal was made to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, and second, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court was entrusted with the investigation of the matter.
Based on the investigation report, it was decided that further action would be taken against Justice Varma. Justice Varma had filed a petition in the Supreme Court against this report and the recommendation of the Collegium.
Questions raised on the investigation process
In the petition filed by Justice Varma, it was stated that the procedure adopted against him was against the Constitution and judicial values. He specifically termed the letter sent by the then CJI to the President and the Prime Minister as unconstitutional. He argued that the investigation committee did not follow the rules and he was not given a full opportunity to present his case.
Supreme Court's blunt response
The bench of Justice Deepankar Dutta and Justice AG Masih, while dismissing the petition, clarified that the investigation committee had followed all the prescribed procedures. The bench also said that Justice Varma's conduct was not such as to inspire confidence in the judiciary. The court refused to accept that the letter sent by the CJI to the President and the Prime Minister was unconstitutional.
