Report on Justice Yashwant Varma Submitted to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna by In-House Committee
(Judicial Quest News Network)
New Delhi, May 5, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India on Saturday confirmed that the in-house committee constituted by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna to examine allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma has submitted its report. The three-member committee concluded its inquiry and handed over its findings to the CJI on May 4, 2025.
The committee, formed on March 22, 2025, was tasked with probing serious allegations of financial impropriety against Justice Varma, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court who was on transfer to the Delhi High Court at the time of the incident. The panel was chaired by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu of the Punjab and Haryana High Court and included Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and Justice Anu Sivaraman of the Karnataka High Court.
In an official statement, the Supreme Court said:
“The three-member Committee consisting of Mr. Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Mr. Justice G.S. Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Ms. Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, constituted for conducting an inquiry into the allegations against Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting Judge, has submitted its report dated 03.05.2025 to the Chief Justice of India on 04.05.2025.”
The probe was initiated after a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s Delhi residence on the evening of March 14. The incident, reportedly accidental, led to an unexpected discovery by firefighters who alleged the presence of large amounts of unaccounted cash inside the premises. A video purportedly showing bundles of burning currency later circulated, intensifying public scrutiny and triggering calls for a formal inquiry.
At the time of the incident, Justice Varma and his wife were away in Madhya Pradesh. His daughter and elderly mother were the only family members present at the residence. Justice Varma denied all allegations, calling the episode a “malicious attempt to malign” his reputation and suggesting that he was the target of a conspiracy.
The matter was initially brought to the attention of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice by the Delhi Police Commissioner. In a rare and transparent move, the Supreme Court made public both the report submitted by the Delhi High Court Chief Justice and Justice Varma’s detailed response to the allegations.
Subsequently, the CJI took the unprecedented step of initiating an in-house inquiry—an internal judicial mechanism not governed by statutory procedures—aimed at preserving judicial integrity while safeguarding institutional fairness.
Pending the outcome of the inquiry, Justice Varma was repatriated to his parent High Court in Allahabad, where he was recently administered the oath of office. However, as per instructions issued by the CJI, he has not been assigned any judicial work for the time being.
The developments also sparked controversy within the legal fraternity. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association staged a strike opposing Justice Varma’s return to the Bench, citing concerns over judicial propriety.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, exercising judicial restraint, declined to entertain a public interest litigation that sought criminal proceedings against Justice Varma while the in-house probe was underway.
As per reports, Justice Varma had consulted a legal team comprising Senior Advocates Siddharth Agarwal and Arundhati Katju, along with Advocates Tara Narula, Stuti Gujral, and another unnamed counsel, shortly after the inquiry began.
The contents of the committee’s report have not been made public, and it remains to be seen what action, if any, the CJI or the Collegium will take based on the findings. The case marks one of the rare instances in Indian judicial history where sitting judges have come under scrutiny through the in-house procedure, bringing issues of transparency, accountability, and judicial ethics to the fore.
