Ahead Of Impeachment Proceedings In Parliament, Justice Yashwant Varma Moves Supreme Court Against Inquiry Panel's Report

Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma has approached the Supreme Court, challenging an enquiry committee’s findings that cited “strong inferential evidence” against him and recommended impeachment proceedings after the discovery of a large sum of cash from his residence, India Today reported.

In his petition, Justice Varma has urged the Supreme Court to cancel the report by the three-judge enquiry committee, arguing that the proceedings violated his rights as an individual and a constitutional functionary.

He also seeks to set aside the impeachment recommendation made by former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, based on the committee’s findings.

Justice Varma contends that the enquiry committee failed to investigate crucial facts and errorneously shifted the burden of proof onto him, requiring him to disprove facts that the committee had merely presumed to be true.

The petition comes just days before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where the Centre is expected to present an impeachment motion against the High Court judge.

It also came just days after the apex Court agreed to hear a fresh plea seeking directions to the Delhi Police and Enforcement Directorate to file an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation into the recovery of unaccounted cash from the residence of Justice Varma.

The plea argues that the discovery of the cash constitutes a "culpable and cognizable offence," making it the police's duty to register an FIR.

In March 2025, a large amount of burnt and partially burnt cash was found at Justice Varma's official residence in Delhi after a fire incident.

This discovery sparked a major controversy and ignited debates over judicial corruption.

At the time, Justice Varma was serving as a judge at the Delhi High Court.

Justice Varma has strongly denied any knowledge of the cash, asserting that neither he nor his family members placed it there.

He maintains that the entire incident is a "conspiracy" aimed at framing and tarnishing his reputation.

After the incident, former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna initiated an in-house enquiry led by a three-member committee of judges.

The committee’s report concluded that Justice Varma was liable for misconduct.

The panel reportedly found “strong inferential evidence” of his “covert or active control” over the storeroom where the cash was discovered, and noted that he failed to provide a credible explanation for its source.

Based on the committee’s findings, the then Chief Justice recommended impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma.

Varma was reportedly advised to resign or opt for voluntary retirement, but he refused, stating that doing so would amount to accepting a “fundamentally unjust” process.

Justice Varma was initially transferred from the Delhi High Court to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, and stripped of all judicial responsibilities.

An impeachment motion against him is expected to be tabled during the Monsoon session of Parliament.

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