Who Are His Lawyers?
Justice Yashwant Varma has sought legal advice ahead of his deposition before the Supreme Court’s in-house inquiry committee, which is probing the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his residence on March 14.
Senior Advocates Siddharth Agarwal and Arundhati Katju, along with advocates Tara Narula, Stuti Gujral, and another legal expert, visited Justice Varma’s residence on Monday and Wednesday this week. According to sources, the judge is meticulously preparing his responses, as they will be crucial in determining future actions in the case.
The Supreme Court’s Inquiry Panel
The inquiry committee, chaired by Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court), alongside Justice GS Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court) and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of the Karnataka High Court), is currently in Delhi. The panel is expected to meet Justice Varma multiple times this week as part of its ongoing probe.
“This process is concerning as it serves as a precursor to impeachment and potential criminal prosecution,” said a highly placed source familiar with the legal discussions surrounding the case.
The Case Against Justice Varma
The controversy erupted after a fire at Justice Varma’s residence inadvertently led to the discovery of unaccounted cash. The incident, first reported by The Times of India, triggered allegations of corruption, which the judge has firmly denied. He claims that the discovery of the cash is part of a larger conspiracy to frame him.
In response, the Chief Justice of India (CJI) initiated an in-house probe on March 22, setting up a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The Supreme Court later shared a video of the recovery of burnt cash, which had been forwarded to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court by the city’s Police Commissioner. Additionally, the Supreme Court has published a report from the Delhi High Court Chief Justice regarding the incident, along with Justice Varma’s formal response.
Collegium Recommends Repatriation
Amidst the ongoing controversy, the Supreme Court Collegium on March 24 recommended Justice Varma’s repatriation to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court. However, the Central government has yet to clear this decision.
As the inquiry progresses, all eyes remain on the Supreme Court’s investigation and Justice Varma’s next course of action. The legal fraternity and judiciary observers will be closely watching how this case unfolds in the coming days.
