New DelhiA parliamentary committee constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has held former Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma responsible in connection with the recovery of cash from his official residence. The committee concluded that Justice Varma failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the presence of the cash found at his residence.
According to the committee's report, obtained by IANS and tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, a large quantity of ₹500 currency notes was recovered from a storeroom at Justice Varma's official residence at 30, Tughlaq Crescent in New Delhi. No clear explanation was provided regarding the cash.
The matter came to light after a fire broke out at his residence on the night of March 14, 2025. Firefighters who arrived to extinguish the blaze found bundles of partially burnt currency notes in the storeroom.
The committee said Justice Varma failed to provide any credible explanation regarding the source, ownership or presence of the currency notes at the residence.
The report also raised concerns over the subsequent investigation process. It stated that important evidence was neither properly secured nor adequately preserved. The condition of the storeroom was reportedly altered before the area could be legally sealed and examined as part of the investigation.
The committee also questioned the disappearance or unavailability of the recovered cash. It observed that the loss of physical evidence was linked to negligence in securing the scene and activities carried out by personnel associated with the residence in the storeroom.
However, the committee clarified that it found no evidence establishing that Justice Varma himself had removed the cash.
The committee criticized Justice Varma's response, particularly his written explanation submitted on March 22, 2025, describing it as unsatisfactory and lacking clarity, transparency and institutional accountability.
The report has been prepared in two volumes and includes oral testimonies recorded during the inquiry as well as documentary evidence.
Earlier, an in-house inquiry committee constituted by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had also concluded that Justice Varma had direct or indirect control over the storeroom where the cash was recovered.
At the time, Justice Varma was serving on the Delhi High Court. Following the controversy, he was transferred back to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court.
Parliament subsequently initiated proceedings for his removal from office. However, after Justice Varma resigned, the removal proceedings effectively came to an end.
