-By Subhrodeep
Supreme Court Publishes Report and Visual Evidence of Justice Yashwant Varma Cash Controversy!
In a significant step toward judicial transparency, the Supreme Court of India has made a publish report publically expressing concern about the discovery of an enormous quantity of unaccounted money at the home of an active Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Yashwant Varma.
The report was accompanied by video and numerous photographs of cash that was stacked on four separate tables to a height of approximately six inches, cash that was partially burned. The report along with images of the cash and videos were posted on the Supreme Court’s website. The discovery of cash occurred on March 14, 2025, when the fire was reported a fire and response was underway. The situation became controversial when a fire was reported in a storeroom next to the Justice Varma’s staff quarters. The personal secretary of the Justice reported the fire and emergency response was underway. Fire officials responding to the fire discovered large quantities of cash in the storeroom, some burned and damaged in the fire. The discovery raised serious issues concerning its origin and purpose.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, in reaction to the event, acted quickly by setting up a three-member committee in-house to investigate. The committee comprises:
In addition, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court was directed not to assign any judicial work to Justice Varma pending the investigation.
The Supreme Court has now provided the report on its website for open access. It contains a detailed account of the events, in addition to the photographic evidence that is part of the report which depicts the currency stacks in various states, some are untouched while some are charred. The report also includes a synopsis of Justice Varma’s reply to the incident, where he states he was unaware and/or was not in possession of the cash sum that is alleged to be found. He expressed he could not believe the photographs and it did not match what he was shown. The fact that this report has been issued to the public from the Supreme Court indicates that the Supreme Court is taking the integrity and transparency of the court process seriously. The publication of the report has also initiated a larger discussion about accountability in the court process and the mechanism to address complaints against the actions of judicial officers.The in house inquiry will continue to rule on the facts of the case and examine if any conduct occurred. Justice Varma has been relieved of his judicial role until the inquiry makes a ruling or determines what, if any, misconduct will be dealt with on a future date.
This is a big deal for the legal community, because it highlights the juvenile importance of accountability and transparency at all levels of the judiciary. The legal community and the public will now watch for the findings of the process and the developments or changes that could happen with the process after attaining the findings.
