Reconstitution of Inquiry Committee Investigating Justice Yashwant Varma's Corruption Allegations

Reconstitution of the Inquiry Committee

The Lok Sabha Speaker's appointed committee tasked with probing corruption allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma has undergone reconstitution, as per a notification released by the house's secretary-general on February 25.

Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava of the Madras High Court, one of the committee's three members, is set to retire on March 6. He will be succeeded by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar from the Bombay High Court.

This inquiry committee was established by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in August of the previous year, following an impeachment motion initiated by 152 MPs from both the ruling party and the opposition against Justice Varma, who was serving as a judge in the Delhi High Court at that time.

Reports indicate that unaccounted cash was allegedly found at Varma’s official residence in Delhi during a fire response on March 14. The judge claimed he was in Bhopal when the cash was discovered and asserted that it did not belong to him or his family. This incident led to his transfer to the Allahabad High Court amidst the controversy.

When the impeachment motion against Justice Varma was accepted, Speaker Om Birla mentioned in the house that the committee would present its findings promptly. However, the investigation faced delays as Justice Varma contested the inquiry committee's legitimacy in the Supreme Court.

On January 16, the Supreme Court dismissed his petition. Shortly thereafter, Justice Varma appeared before the committee to present his defense. Since that time, the committee has convened multiple times to review testimonies from other witnesses involved in the case.

With Justice Shrivastava's retirement approaching on March 6, the committee has now been restructured. It remains uncertain whether the newly formed committee will initiate a fresh investigation or continue with the testimonies already recorded.