The Supreme Court has rejected a plea filed by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma challenging the validity of a Parliamentary Committee constituted to investigate corruption allegations against him. Justice Varma had contended that the committee was improperly formed, arguing that the motion seeking his removal was earlier rejected by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which he claimed made the panel unconstitutional.
The three-member committee was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in August 2025 to probe the cash recovery case linked to Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi. The panel comprises Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Maninder Mohan, and senior advocate BV Acharaya. The investigation follows a high-profile incident in March 2025, when stacks of cash, some measuring over 1.5 feet, were discovered at Justice Varma’s residence after a massive fire. Following this, the then Chief Justice of India transferred him from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court.
Justice Varma has maintained that he was not present at his residence when the fire occurred and claimed that he could not be held responsible for the cash allegedly recovered, as he was not the first responder at the scene. Despite these arguments, the Supreme Court’s ruling allows the Parliamentary Committee to continue its inquiry into the alleged irregularities. This decision effectively clears the way for the panel to examine evidence, summon witnesses, and determine whether any misconduct occurred, marking a significant step forward in the ongoing investigation into one of the judiciary’s most high-profile controversies in recent years.
