Supreme Court Makes Judge Cash Row Report Public, Includes Justice Varma’s Response, Photos and Videos

In a rare move to uphold transparency, the Supreme Court released a detailed report on allegations of cash found at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence, including his full rebuttal and related visuals.

New Delhi, March 23 – In an unprecedented move aimed at maintaining judicial transparency, the Supreme Court of India has made public the full report into the alleged discovery of unaccounted cash at the premises of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma. The report, submitted by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, includes videos, photographs, related documents, and Justice Varma’s detailed written rebuttal.

Also Read: Cash Found at Delhi HC Judge’s Residence During Fire; SC Collegium Orders Immediate Transfer

Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, after consulting collegium members Justices BR Gavai, Surya Kant, AS Oka, and Vikram Nath, approved the public release of the report. Portions of the document have been redacted to maintain confidentiality, sources said.

📝 Justice Varma Refutes Allegations, Suggests Conspiracy

In his detailed response, Justice Varma strongly denied any knowledge of cash at the site, terming the circulating video “shocking” and suggesting it was part of a conspiracy to frame him.

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“It was this which prompted me to observe that this clearly appeared to be a conspiracy to frame and malign me,” he said, adding that neither he nor his household staff saw or removed any cash.

He clarified that the room where the alleged cash was found is not part of his residence, but rather a common storeroom detached from the main house and accessible from outside.

“We were away in Bhopal when the fire broke out. Only my daughter and mother were home,” Justice Varma added, saying no sacks of cash were recovered, seized, or even shown to him or his staff.

🔍 Supreme Court Questions, Inquiry and Findings

CJI Khanna posed three critical questions to Justice Varma through Chief Justice Upadhyaya:

How does he account for the presence of money in the room?
What is the source of the money allegedly found?
Who removed the burnt currency from the room?

The CJI also sought call records of Justice Varma’s official and private phones, and requested that he preserve all mobile data for further verification.

📜 Excerpts From Justice Varma’s Statement

“The room is used as a general dump for disused items… It is publicly accessible. We categorically deny any knowledge of cash, burnt or otherwise.”

He emphasized the damage to his reputation, stating:

“In the life of a judge, nothing matters more than reputation and character. That has been severely tarnished and irreparably damaged.”

⚖️ Senior Lawyer Weighs In

Renowned senior advocate Harish Salve, a known critic of the collegium system, called the situation “odd and murky,” citing reports that the Delhi fire chief claimed no cash was recovered at the judge’s bungalow.

🔄 Transfer Not Linked to Inquiry: SC

The Supreme Court clarified that Justice Varma’s transfer to Allahabad High Court was already under process and unrelated to the cash stash allegations. It cautioned the public against rumours and misinformation linking the two developments.

Justice Yashwant Varma, appointed to the Delhi High Court in 2021, currently heads a division bench dealing with indirect taxation and commercial matters.

The incident and its fallout mark a rare and deeply sensitive moment in Indian judicial history — with the judiciary stepping forward to publicly confront and dispel serious allegations to protect institutional integrity.

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Justice Yashwant Varma, Supreme Court India, Delhi High Court judge cash row, judicial transparency, Justice DK Upadhyaya report, Supreme Court investigation, Judge Varma video response, Indian judiciary, Delhi fire incident judge house, Justice Varma transfer, Harish Salve on judiciary, cash stash controversy

Misha Bhatia