Justice Varma Given Only Six Weeks to Respond Over Burnt Cash Scandal

New Delhi: The troubles for former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma are far from over. Following the discovery of bundles of burnt currency notes at his residence, Justice Varma has now been given just six weeks to respond to the allegations.

The directive comes from a three-member investigation panel headed by Supreme Court Justice Arvind Kumar, which also includes Chief Justice M.M. Srivastava of Madras High Court and senior advocate B.V. Acharya. The panel was constituted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after a motion signed by 146 MPs was submitted calling for action against Justice Varma.

Earlier, during proceedings on 5 December, Justice Varma had requested eight weeks to submit his response. However, the panel has now made it clear that six weeks is the final timeframe, leaving no room for extension. The case had already reached the Lok Sabha, where a motion for his removal had been tabled following the discovery of cash bundles at his residence.

Evidence and hearings
The investigation, set to resume in the last week of January, is based on a memorandum of charges supported by evidence. This includes the incident on the night of 14–15 March, video recordings of burnt cash captured by Delhi Police and Fire Services personnel while extinguishing a fire in one room of Justice Varma’s Lutyens’ Zone bungalow, as well as witness statements from a prior in-house inquiry panel headed by former CJI Sanjeev Khanna.

Justice Varma will have the opportunity to present evidence in his defense before the panel. He will also be allowed to cross-examine witnesses who support the allegations against him.

Following the discovery of cash at his home, Justice Varma was transferred from Delhi High Court back to his parent Allahabad High Court, and all judicial duties were withdrawn from him. The six-week timeline now sets the stage for a decisive phase in this high-profile judicial controversy.