Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Renuka Chowdhury on Monday submitted Adjournment Motion notices in Parliament, calling for a discussion on the controversy surrounding Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who is facing a probe over the alleged recovery of cash from his residence.
In their notice, the Congress leaders urged the government to provide an explanation and assurances regarding the matter. “It is essential that this issue is thoroughly discussed and the truth be laid bare for the people of India,” the notice read.
The controversy erupted after a fire broke out at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence on March 14, inadvertently leading to the discovery of a large amount of cash. Firefighters responding to the incident reportedly found the money, though the judge was not present at the time.
Adding to the intrigue, sanitation workers later claimed to have found burnt pieces of Rs 500 notes near the judge’s official residence. “We were cleaning the area 4-5 days ago when we found some small burnt pieces of Rs 500 notes,” said Inderjeet, a sanitation worker, speaking to ANI.
Amid growing concerns, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations. The panel comprises:
- Chief Justice Sheel Nagu (Punjab & Haryana High Court)
- Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia (Himachal Pradesh High Court)
- Justice Anu Sivaraman (Karnataka High Court)
Additionally, the Supreme Court has released the inquiry report filed by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, who has recommended a deeper probe into the case.
In his official response, Justice Yashwant Varma has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a conspiracy to frame and malign him. He stated that neither he nor his family members had placed any cash in the storeroom where it was allegedly found. Furthermore, he clarified that the room in question was an outhouse, separate from the main building where his family resides.
Amid the ongoing probe, Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay has directed Justice Varma to preserve all communication on his phone, including calls, messages, and data, as the controversy continues to unfold.