In a significant development in Indian judiciary, Justice Yashwant Varma has refused to step down from his position as a High Court judge despite being indicted by a high-level in-house committee for alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence in Delhi.
Sources confirm that Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, after reviewing the findings of the three-member inquiry panel, had requested Justice Varma to resign or face impeachment. With the judge declining to tender his resignation, CJI Khanna has now forwarded the report and Justice Varma’s written response to the President and Prime Minister of India — initiating the constitutional process for his removal.
Impeachment Proceedings Likely Against Justice Yashwant Varma
Under the established in-house mechanism for judicial accountability, the Chief Justice is required to notify the President and Prime Minister if a judge refuses to resign despite adverse findings. This procedural step could now pave the way for Justice Varma’s impeachment by Parliament — a rare and serious event in the Indian judicial system.
The in-house inquiry committee was constituted on March 22, 2025, and comprised:
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab & Haryana High Court)
- Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court)
- Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court)
The panel began its investigation on March 25 and submitted its final report to CJI Khanna on May 4.
Burning Cash at Residence Sparked Corruption Allegations
The allegations stem from a fire incident on March 14 at Justice Varma’s government residence in Delhi, during which fire department personnel reportedly discovered large amounts of burning cash. At the time of the fire, Justice Varma and his wife were in Madhya Pradesh, while only their daughter and elderly mother were present at home.
A viral video showing bundles of cash ablaze inside the premises raised serious questions and led to a preliminary internal probe. The Delhi Police Commissioner submitted the video footage to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, which was later shared with the Supreme Court. In an unprecedented move, the apex court made both the preliminary report and Justice Varma’s rebuttal publicly available.
Judicial Duties Suspended, Legal Battle Ahead
Following the initial inquiry, Justice Varma was repatriated to his parent court — the Allahabad High Court — where he was recently administered the oath of office. However, the CJI has directed that his judicial functions remain suspended pending further action.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association went on strike in protest of Justice Varma’s return, underscoring the gravity of the situation within the legal fraternity.
Meanwhile, Justice Varma has denied all allegations, calling the incident a “conspiracy” against him. Reports suggest he has sought legal advice from a team of senior lawyers in anticipation of possible legal and constitutional proceedings.
Notably, the Supreme Court earlier declined to entertain a petition seeking registration of an FIR against the judge, citing the ongoing in-house inquiry.
