Justice Yashwant Varma Seeks Urgent Hearing In Burnt Cash Case As CJI Recuses Himself

Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court has approached the Supreme Court seeking an urgent hearing on his petition related to a high-profile case involving the recovery of burnt cash from his government residence.

The case has triggered serious judicial and political attention, with impeachment proceedings reportedly on the horizon.

On Wednesday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai declined to hear the matter, stating that he had participated in the formation of the in-house committee that investigated the case.

Therefore, the Supreme Court will soon constitute a new bench to address the petition.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Justice Varma, mentioned the matter before the CJI and requested prompt listing due to its constitutional importance.

He was joined by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi, Rakesh Dwivedi, Siddharth Luthra, and Siddharth Agarwal. The legal team stressed the urgency of the matter, especially in light of the sensitive issues it raises regarding natural justice and procedural fairness.

In his petition, Justice Varma has questioned the findings of the in-house committee formed to investigate the incident. He urged the court to declare the report invalid and to quash the recommendation made by then Acting Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna to the Prime Minister and President on 8 May.

According to Justice Varma, the committee reached its conclusions without granting him an opportunity to be heard.

He argued that the panel did not conduct a fair investigation into the alleged recovery of cash from his official residence on 14 March.

Additionally, he maintains that the omission of a personal hearing violates the principles of natural justice.

The petition arrives at a politically charged moment, just ahead of the Parliament’s monsoon session scheduled to begin on 21 July. The government is reportedly preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings based on the committee’s findings.

Committee Report Details Serious Allegations

The panel of three Supreme Court judges held Justice Varma and his family directly accountable for storing the burnt cash. The panel examined statements from 55 witnesses, forensic evidence, and fire department reports, and concluded that Justice Varma or his family intentionally removed the cash and deliberately destroyed evidence after the fire at his residence.

The 64-page report revealed that investigators found the charred currency in the storeroom of 30 Tughlaq Crescent, New Delhi, a government accommodation officially assigned to Justice Varma. It further claimed that the storeroom was under the secret or active control of either Justice Varma or his family.

The committee recorded video evidence during witness statements to avoid future disputes.

It also referenced a letter from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court dated 22 March, which reportedly contained allegations backed by factual details.

As the judiciary prepares to consider this sensitive and complex matter, Justice Varma continues to assert his right to a fair hearing. The case not only raises questions about procedural integrity but may also set a precedent for future judicial accountability in India.

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