Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday announced the formation of a three-member panel to investigate allegations against High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.
The probe follows the discovery of a large sum of burned and partially burned cash at Justice Varma’s residence after a fire incident in March 2025.
The panel comprises Supreme Court Justice Aravind Kumar, Madras High Court Chief Justice Maninder Mohan, and senior advocate BV Acharaya. The fire broke out at Varma’s home on March 14, when he was serving as a judge in the Delhi High Court.
The Supreme Court recently dismissed Justice Varma’s plea challenging the validity of an in-house inquiry report that found him guilty of misconduct related to the cash discovery. The top court also questioned Varma’s decision to approach it only after the committee’s findings, emphasizing the importance of timely challenges.
In July, the Supreme Court reprimanded Justice Varma for conduct that failed to inspire confidence and upheld the Chief Justice of India’s authority to address judicial misconduct proactively.
The ongoing investigation and judicial proceedings continue to draw attention amid calls for transparency and accountability within the judiciary.
