Justice Yashwant Varma, facing impeachment proceedings after a cash stash was found at his residence, told a parliamentary panel that he was not present during the fire and claimed no cash was recovered at the time. India Today has obtained his detailed response, where he mounted a strong defence before the panel probing the case.
In March 2025, stacks of cash, some over 1.5 feet high, were discovered at his official Delhi residence following a major fire. The then Chief Justice transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, and in August 2025, a three-member Lok Sabha panel was formed to investigate the allegations.
Justice Varma argued that he was not the first responder and could not be held responsible for alleged lapses by the police or fire department. He stated that the cash recovery was reported later and that the site was under the control of officials present at the scene.
However, an in-house Supreme Court inquiry concluded that Justice Varma and his family had active control over the room where the cash was found. The judge has now approached the Supreme Court challenging the formation of the inquiry committee.
