A parliamentary inquiry committee has found all three charges proven against former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, concluding that substantial unexplained cash was discovered at his official residence and that his explanations were evasive and unsatisfactory.
The findings stem from cash recovered in a storeroom at 30 Tughlak Crescent following a fire on March 14, 2025. The panel noted that while it did not establish personal ownership of the money in the criminal‑law sense, the currency was found within premises under Varma’s control, and he failed to explain its presence, source, or ownership.
The committee also faulted the handling of evidence, observing that the storeroom was not sealed immediately and that cleaning occurred before formal inspection, resulting in the loss of material evidence.
Justice Varma’s explanations were described as “evasive, incomplete and misleading in effect,” failing to address key questions about the cash and subsequent actions after the fire.
The inquiry, initiated in September 2025 after the Lok Sabha Speaker admitted a motion seeking his removal, concluded that all charges were proven for the purpose of the parliamentary process. Facing imminent removal, Justice Varma resigned from the Allahabad High Court, rendering the impeachment proceedings infructuous.
