Justice Yashwant Verma Denies Allegations of Cash Recovery, Calls Incident a Conspiracy to Frame Him

(By Syed Ali Taher Abedi)

In a detailed response to the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Justice Yashwant Verma has strongly denied allegations that cash was recovered from his residence following a fire at his property on March 14, 2025. Verma, a judge at the Delhi High Court, asserts that the incident is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at framing and maligning his reputation.

Justice Verma explained that the fire, which broke out in a storage room used as a general dump for household items and miscellaneous articles, did not originate in the main residence. He emphasized that neither he nor his family members had ever stored cash in that room, which is entirely separate from his living area and is accessed by staff. “The idea that we would store cash in an open, freely accessible space like that is preposterous,” he stated.

Verma also contested claims made by authorities and media regarding the recovery of burnt cash at the fire site, insisting that no currency was found or seized by the firefighters. In a response filed on March 22, he pointed out that none of the staff present at the scene were shown any remnants of burnt currency, adding that the video footage circulating, which purportedly captured the recovery, does not show any such discovery. “The video does not support the claim, and none of the staff were shown any currency,” Verma said.

According to Verma, the security guard at the scene later reported that partially burnt items had been removed from the room on the morning of March 15, but he vehemently denied the suggestion that anyone, including himself or his staff, had removed any currency from the site.

Justice Verma clarified that he was shocked by the video shared by the Commissioner of Police, which suggested the recovery of cash, as it did not reflect what he witnessed at the site. Verma also referred to a report submitted by the Registrar of the Delhi High Court on March 16, which did not mention any cash recovery. He emphasized that when the site was inspected that evening, no currency or cash was found.

In his reply, Verma expressed frustration over the damage to his reputation, calling the allegations against him baseless and harmful to his career. “The life of a judge is built on reputation and character,” he said, adding that the unfounded accusations have caused irreparable damage to his standing in the legal community.

Justice Verma also referenced a past social media post and an FIR filed against him in 2018 by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), suggesting that this recent incident is part of a pattern of efforts to frame and undermine him. He asserted that the allegations were based on mere innuendo and unfounded assumptions.

In a call for transparency, Verma requested an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the allegations, as well as a review of his judicial conduct throughout his career. “I would be grateful if an inquiry is made with respect to my functioning as a judge, as my integrity and honesty have never been questioned before,” he said.

The fire and subsequent allegations have now prompted further investigations, including an in-house probe initiated by the Chief Justice of India. As the inquiry continues, Justice Verma stands firm in his assertion that the claims against him are false and part of a larger conspiracy to tarnish his reputation.