A panel constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker to probe allegations of discovery of cash at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma has found that the charges of unexplained cash, disturbing evidence and evasive explanation against him "are proved".
In its report submitted in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday, the three-member committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act said Justice Varma failed to furnish satisfactory explanation on the presence, source or ownership of cash found in the store room of his official residence.
The panel also said that material evidence was not secured or preserved and the evidentiary condition of the storeroom was disturbed before the lawful sealing and inspection.
It also found that the explanation by Justice Varma did not exhibit candour, transparency and institutional responsibility expected in the circumstances.
"It remained evasive and unsatisfactory when tested against the evidence of independent official witnesses and corroborative material," the panel said in its final report.
"The Committee therefore records its final findings that Articles of charges I, II and III are proved," the probe panel said in its consolidated findings on the articles of charge against Justice Varma in the report submitted to Parliament.
The report is in two volumes along with oral and documentary evidence recorded during the course of the investigation.
The three-member probe panel had submitted its findings to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in May.
A fire broke out in the official residence of Justice Varma on the night of March 14, 2025. Firefighters called to put out the blaze allegedly discovered massive amounts of burnt currency in a storeroom.
Justice Varma has since resigned, and removal proceedings against him have virtually become infructuous. His resignation, however, has not yet been notified by the law ministry.
He was a judge of the Delhi High Court and repatriated to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, following the controversy.
An in-house committee constituted by then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna concluded that Justice Varma had "active or tacit control" over the specific storeroom where the cash was hidden.
In July 2025, over 200 MPs signed a motion to impeach (removal by Parliament) the judge.
In August last year, Birla constituted the three-member Judges Inquiry Committee to look into the charges.
People aware of the process to appoint and remove Supreme Court and high court judges cited a top court judgment to say a judge is "deemed to have resigned" once he or she tenders resignation to the President" and "circulates" its copy (makes it public).
A judge's resignation is not "subject to acceptance" by the President.
According to the procedure, the president gives "formal acceptance" following which it is notified by the Department of Justice in the Law Ministry.
(With inputs from PTI)
