Supreme Court Dismisses Plea for Criminal Action Against Justice Yashwant Varma Amid Cash Controversy

The Supreme Court has turned down a plea for the criminal prosecution of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is involved in a controversy regarding the discovery of burnt cash at his residence. The court stated that the matter is under inquiry and advised the petitioner to seek action from the President and Prime Minister first. The allegations suggest serious corruption, raising questions about the judicial integrity and the need for a thorough investigation. This case has sent shockwaves through the judicial system, prompting discussions about accountability and justice.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 21, 2025, 15:23 IST

Supreme Court's Decision on Justice Varma's Case

New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court declined to consider a petition calling for the criminal prosecution of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is at the center of a scandal involving the alleged discovery of a significant amount of burnt cash in a storeroom linked to his residence in the capital, following a fire incident on March 14.

The bench, led by Justice Abhay S. Oka, informed advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, the petitioner, that an internal inquiry report had already been submitted to both the President and the Prime Minister for further action. The court advised that any writ of mandamus should first be directed to these authorities before approaching the court.

Justice Oka emphasized, "You should formally request action from the President and the Prime Minister. If they fail to respond, then you may return to us." The bench also included Justice Ujjal Bhuyan.

The petition argued that if Justice Varma is found guilty of amassing wealth through corrupt practices, mere impeachment would not be adequate, highlighting the severity of the alleged crime against public justice.

The petition stated, "This is not an ordinary offense, especially when the accused is a judge, the very defender of justice. It is crucial that criminal proceedings are initiated, and a thorough investigation is conducted to identify those involved in bribery and the circumstances surrounding the alleged corruption."

The plea further claimed that the substantial amounts of cash that were either burned or removed were likely linked to bribery, a serious offense under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Prevention of Corruption Act. It questioned why no FIR had been filed and why criminal proceedings had not commenced, which would have included seizing the cash and arresting suspects.

In late March, the same petitioners had their request for the Delhi Police to file an FIR and conduct a thorough investigation dismissed by Justices Oka and Bhuyan.

The bench remarked, "The internal inquiry is still in progress. If the findings indicate wrongdoing, an FIR may be ordered, or the matter could be escalated to Parliament. Now is not the appropriate time to consider the FIR registration."

The petition also criticized the delay in registering an FIR on March 14, the day unaccounted cash was reportedly discovered, suggesting that the authorities' failure to release electronic records indicated a potential cover-up.

Following the cash discovery, which caused significant concern within judicial circles, the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, established a three-member committee to investigate Justice Varma. During the inquiry, Justice Varma was reassigned from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, with the Supreme Court Collegium previously recommending his repatriation.

Earlier this month, Chief Justice Khanna submitted the committee's report to the President and the Prime Minister, stating, "The Chief Justice of India has communicated with the President and Prime Minister, enclosing the three-member committee report dated May 3, 2025, along with Justice Varma's response dated May 6, 2025."