Sat Mar 22 19:46:06 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Releases Report on Delhi High Court Judge’s Cash Allegations in Unprecedented Transparency Move
**New Delhi** – In an unprecedented move aimed at transparency, the Supreme Court of India has released a report detailing an investigation into allegations of a large cash stash found at the residence of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. The report, uploaded to the Supreme Court website, includes Justice Varma’s response and related documents, some portions of which have been redacted to protect confidentiality.
The investigation was initiated following reports of a fire at Justice Varma’s residence on March 15, 2025. Delhi Police shared a video purportedly showing burnt currency notes. Justice Varma vehemently denies the allegations, stating he was in Bhopal at the time and that the video misrepresents the scene. He claims the fire occurred in a detached storeroom used for general storage and that no cash was found. His daughter and mother were the only ones present at the residence.
The report, prepared by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, includes three key questions posed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna to Justice Varma: how he accounts for the alleged presence of cash; the source of the money; and who removed any burnt cash from the premises. The Chief Justice also requested call records and details of security personnel assigned to Justice Varma’s residence.
Justice Varma’s response, also included in the released documents, emphasizes the storeroom’s accessibility and its use for storing discarded items. He contests the assertion that the alleged cash belonged to him or his family, highlighting the absence of any recovered burnt currency. He argues the allegations are based on innuendo and have severely damaged his reputation.
The Supreme Court clarified that Justice Varma’s upcoming transfer to the Allahabad High Court is unrelated to this investigation, stating that misinformation fueled rumors connecting the two events. Senior lawyer Harish Salve, while critical of the collegium system, commented on the inconsistencies surrounding the police’s claims.
The Supreme Court’s decision to publicly release the report marks a significant departure from typical procedures and underscores its commitment to addressing concerns surrounding judicial integrity with utmost transparency.
First Piper 