Bombay Lawyers Association Urges CJI To Approve Criminal Proceedings Against Justice Yashwant Varma, Stressing Judicial Accountability.
(Judicial Quest News Network)
In an unprecedented move the Bombay Lawyers Association (BLI) approached Chief Justice of India BR. Gavai, seeking permission to initiate criminal prosecution against Justice Yashwant Varma.
Justice Yashwant Varma, currently serving as a judge in the Allahabad High Court, is facing scrutiny following the discovery of a substantial amount of unaccounted burnt cash at his official residence earlier this year.
The BLA has urged the Chief Justice of India to “Grant sanction for the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Hon’ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in connection with the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence on March 14, 2025.”
The BLA’s letter is signed by its President, Advocate Ahmed Abdi, and Secretary, Advocate Eknath Dhokla “The Applicant is seeking your sanction to initiate criminal prosecution, including the registration of a First Information Report (FIR), against Hon’ble Mr. Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting Judge of the Allahabad High Court, under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in connection with the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash from his official residence.”
Highlighting the principle of equality before the law and the need for institutional accountability in the letter BLA urged that credible evidence including photographs and video footage shared by law enforcement authorities indicates the commission of a cognizable offence.
The BLA has also cited a judgment of the constitution Bench in K. Veeraswami V. Union of India (1991) in which the Supreme Court had held that a judge is also a public servant under the PC Act and can be subjected to criminal prosecution as long as sanction is obtained from CJI.
Furthermore, the BLA has urged the CJI to grant the sanction promptly, expressing concerns that procedural delays could lead to potential evidence tampering.
“The petitioners in earlier pleas before the Supreme Court raised concerns about the potential destruction of evidence due to the delay in initiating criminal proceedings. The absence of an FIR, seizure of the alleged cash, or a mahazar (panchnama) raises questions about the integrity of the investigation process. Immediate action is necessary to ensure that evidence is preserved and the rule of law is upheld.”
The Association has urged the Chief Justice of India to direct relevant authorities, including the Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation, to secure and preserve all material evidence, such as partially burnt currency, videos, and photographs of the scene.
BL also urged the Apex Court to provide a copy of the in-house committee’s report against Justice Varma be made available to it, to support the filling of a formal complaint.
“On March 14, 2025, a fire broke out at the official residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, then a sitting Judge of the Delhi High Court, located at 30 Tughlak Road, New Delhi. During the firefighting operation, emergency responders, including the Delhi Police and fire services, reportedly discovered a significant amount of partially burnt and unaccounted cash in a storeroom or outhouse within the premises. Initial reports, though unconfirmed, estimate the amount to be approximately Rs. 15 crores.”
The allegations, supported by photographic and video evidence shared by the Delhi Police Commissioner, have raised serious concerns about judicial probity and public trust in the judiciary. The failure to register an FIR, despite the inquiry committee’s findings, risks undermining the principle of equality before the law and the credibility of the judicial institution.
