Justice Yashwant Varma, who stepped down amidst an impeachment process following the discovery of bundles of cash at his home, has written to the parliamentary inquiry committee investigating the matter, stating that he has been unfairly targeted despite the lack of direct evidence against him. Varma informed the committee of his resignation and withdrew from the ongoing proceedings, questioning the fairness and legal basis of the inquiry.
In a detailed 13-page letter, Varma reiterated his assertion that he was away on a planned vacation when the cash was found in March 2025, and it is illogical to believe he would have hidden money in a storeroom. He claimed he was not given a fair chance to defend himself and criticized the investigation for being based on suggestions and presumptions rather than solid proof.
The controversy began when a fire erupted at Justice Varma’s official residence in New Delhi, revealing burnt and partially burnt Rs 500 notes amounting to nearly Rs 15 crore hidden in a storeroom. Varma maintained that the storeroom was not under his control, despite subsequent findings suggesting otherwise.
Varma accused the parliamentary inquiry committee of heavily relying on a prior in-house report meant for the Chief Justice of India, which he argued should not have been made public. He criticized the committee for not conducting a fresh investigation as required by the Judges Inquiry Act, claiming the proceedings were built on suggestions and presumptions.
The 57-year-old judge stated that the proceedings against him had focused on assumptions and insinuations, shifting the burden of proof onto him. He decided to withdraw from the inquiry, stating that continuing would validate a flawed process that demanded answers to unanswerable questions about the source of the money he claims he was unaware of.
Varma expressed disappointment with how he was treated and the probe’s conduct by the Parliament-appointed panel. His resignation renders the impeachment proceedings moot, as only a parliamentary process can remove a sitting judge. An internal Supreme Court inquiry found misconduct allegations against Varma to be substantiated, leading to his removal from judicial duties and transfer to the Allahabad High Court without any assigned responsibilities.
The impeachment process commenced in July 2025, with notices filed in both Houses of Parliament to investigate alleged misbehavior by a sitting judge. A three-member committee was formed to examine the accusations against Varma.