Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has appointed senior lawyers Rohan Singh and Samiksha Dua as advisors to assist a special parliamentary committee investigating allegations of misconduct and corruption against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Allahabad High Court.
Their appointment comes after Birla, on August 12, constituted a special three‑member panel to investigate charges levelled against Justice Varma.
The committee comprises Supreme Court Judge Arvind Kumar, Justice Manindra Mohan of the Madras High Court and senior advocate BV Acharya, who has been associated with the Karnataka High Court.
The panel was tasked with reviewing allegations contained in an impeachment motion notice submitted to the Lok Sabha.
Furthermore, Justice Varma was accused of misconduct and corruption.
The inquiry drew on testimonies from 55 witnesses, forensic examinations and depositions from Delhi Fire Service officials.
After evaluating the evidence, the committee determined that Justice Varma and his family held direct responsibility for storing large amounts of cash.
Investigators reported that someone secretly shifted the money overnight after a fire and deliberately destroyed incriminating evidence.
Evidence and Report Findings
Alongside oral and written testimonies, video recordings were included, fortifying the panel’s case against any possible challenge.
The panel compiled its conclusions in a detailed 64‑page report. In its final section, the committee stated that the cash was discovered inside a storeroom.
Furthermore, at 30 Tughlaq Crescent, New Delhi, which was officially allotted to Justice Varma, cash was found.
The report emphasised and remained under either tacit or active control of the judge and his immediate family.
The committee further revealed that the accusations raised earlier by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in a letter dated March 22 were verified and substantiated.
According to the panel, the accusations amounted to grave misconduct, warranting Justice Varma’s ouster.
The controversy erupted on March 14, when fire crews at his Delhi home stumbled upon sacks of half-burnt money. The discovery triggered immediate concern, prompting officials to begin a high‑level inquiry.
With the investigative panel’s report now submitted, Parliament will move forward on the impeachment process.
If accepted, it would mark one of the rare instances of such strong disciplinary action against a sitting High Court judge in India.
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