Fire, Cash & Controversy: What Was Found at a Delhi HC Judge’s Home?

In a startling incident that has sent shockwaves through India's judiciary, a fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma on March 14, 2025, led to the discovery of large quantities of partially burnt currency notes. the ensuing investigation has raised serious questions about judicial accountability and transparency. the Incident On the night of March 14, a fire broke out in a storeroom adjacent to Justice Varma's official bungalow in Lutyens' Delhi. the fire was reported around 11:35 PM, and fire services arrived promptly to extinguish the blaze. During their operations, first responders discovered four to five sacks filled with partially burnt Indian currency notes inside the affected room . the discovery was promptly reported to Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, who informed Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna the following day. A video shared by the police commissioner, later made public by the Supreme Court, showed firemen retrieving charred wads of cash from the debris . Judicial Response In response to the incident, Chief Justice Khanna constituted a three-member inquiry committee comprising Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of Karnataka High Court) . the committee was tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the cash and determining any potential misconduct. Additionally, the Supreme Court directed that no judicial work be assigned to Justice Varma pending the outcome of the inquiry. the Delhi High Court Chief Justice, Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, submitted a detailed report recommending a deeper probe into the matter Justice Varma's Defense Justice Varma has categorically denied any knowledge of the cash found at his residence. In his response to the inquiry panel, he stated that the storeroom where the fire occurred was a common area used for storing discarded household items and was accessible to various staff members, including servants and CPWD personnel. He emphasized that he was in Bhopal at the time of the incident and was informed about the fire by his daughter. He further contended that neither he nor his family members had any knowledge of the burnt currency and suggested that the incident might be part of a conspiracy against him. Justice Varma also questioned the authenticity of the video footage showing the burnt cash sacks, arguing that none of his staff or family members saw any such cash at the site . Contradictions and Discrepancies Despite Justice Varma's assertions, several contradictions have emerged between his statements and official reports. While Justice Varma claimed that the storeroom was unlocked and accessible to various individuals, the police reported that the room was typically kept locked and was adjacent to a guardroom occupied by the Central Reserve Police Force . Furthermore, Justice Varma stated that no cash was found when he personally inspected the gutted room with police and court officials. However, the police commissioner reported that four to five half-burnt sacks containing Indian currency notes were found after dousing the fire, and the remains of the cash were removed the next morning . Supreme Court's Actions In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court made public the inquiry report by Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, along with photographs and video footage of the burnt currency notes. the materials, uploaded on the court’s website, revealed the findings of the internal investigation and Justice Varma’s detailed response denying the allegations . the Supreme Court also decided to transfer Justice Varma back to his parent High Court in Allahabad. the Collegium, led by Chief Justice Khanna, unanimously resolved to recommend Justice Varma’s transfer after being apprised about the video of the inciden. Ongoing Investigation the inquiry committee has been tasked with establishing the source of the burnt cash, identifying who removed the burnt money from the storeroom on March 15, and investigating phone call records and security details of Justice Varma’s residence over the last six months . Justice Varma has been instructed not to dispose of his mobile phone or delete any data, as forensic analysis will be conducted on his call records and messages. the discovery of burnt currency notes at the residence of a sitting High Court judge has raised critical questions about judicial integrity and accountability. As the inquiry progresses, the judiciary faces the challenge of addressing these concerns transparently to maintain public trust in the legal system.