Fire uncovers huge cash stash at Delhi HC Judge's home, transferred to Allahabad HC

The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, has transferred Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court after a fire at his residence led to the discovery of a large stash of cash. The incident took place last week when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official bungalow on Tughlak Road. First responders, while dousing the flames, discovered a significant amount of cash inside one of the rooms, prompting immediate police and government intervention.

Justice Varma was not in town at the time of the incident. His family members called the fire department, which, after putting out the fire, alerted the police about the cash discovery. Senior officials in the government were informed, and the matter was brought to the attention of the CJI. The Supreme Court Collegium convened and unanimously decided to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, where he had served before his appointment to the Delhi High Court in 2021.

The decision to transfer Justice Varma was based on an "adverse report" received by the Collegium. Some members of the five-judge panel reportedly raised concerns that a transfer alone might not be sufficient and suggested stronger action, including seeking his resignation or initiating an internal investigation. As per the Supreme Court’s 1999 in-house procedure, if allegations of judicial impropriety arise, the CJI can first seek an explanation from the judge. If unsatisfied, the CJI can form a probe committee comprising one Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices.

The incident has sparked discussions in judicial circles, with senior lawyer Arun Bhardwaj raising the issue before the Delhi High Court on Friday. Addressing a bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, Bhardwaj stated, "We respect the system a lot. Each of the judges is respected a lot. We are shaken, my lords, and demoralized. Please take some steps." Chief Justice Upadhyaya responded, "So is everybody. We are conscious." Meanwhile, the court master of Justice Varma’s bench announced that he was on leave for the day.

No formal inquiry has been announced so far, but the matter remains under scrutiny. The incident has led to concerns regarding judicial accountability and the need for further investigation. Under existing rules, any move toward impeachment would require parliamentary intervention following an internal inquiry. Further decisions on the case are awaited.