In a key development in the probe into the recovery of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, a three-member judicial inquiry committee comprising of Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, and Karnataka High Court Judge, Justice Anu Sivaraman has recorded statements of senior Delhi Police officers, including Commissioner Sanjay Arora and DCP Devesh Kumar Mahala.
The panel, formed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, held the proceedings at the Haryana State Guest House in Chanakyapuri on Friday. Police Commissioner Arora appeared before the committee around 5:30 PM and was questioned for approximately two hours. Prior to his appearance, DCP Mahala recorded his statement over a span of nearly four hours, beginning at 3 PM.
The inquiry was triggered after a fire broke out on March 14 at Justice Varma’s residence, revealing bundles of burnt currency in a storeroom. Justice Varma and his wife were reportedly not at home when the fire occurred. The blaze was reported by his personal assistant (PA) at 11:30 PM, and was doused by midnight.
So far, the committee has recorded testimonies from:
- Five police personnel who were first responders
- Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg
- Three firefighters involved in the operation
- Three security guards stationed at the judge’s residence
- Three domestic staff members
- The Additional DCP (New Delhi) and ACP (Chanakyapuri)
Following the fire, DCP Mahala sealed the storeroom where the cash was found, acting on the committee’s directions. The Delhi Police has also submitted key records to Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, including:
- Names of security staff posted at the judge’s residence over the past six months
- Justice Varma’s Call Detail Records (CDRs) and Internet Protocol Detail Records (IPDRs) for the same period
According to sources, after the fire was extinguished, the judge’s PA asked the police to leave and return the next morning. On March 15, the Additional DCP compiled the daily morning diary, which included a report of the incident. This was forwarded to Commissioner Arora, who reviewed video footage from the scene and alerted central authorities. He later informed Chief Justice Upadhyaya around 4:50 PM.
The inquiry continues as the panel examines more evidence to determine the origin and nature of the discovered cash.
