10 Key Findings: Justice Yashwant Varma's Unnatural Acts, Burnt Cash Removed

An internal committee comprising Chief Justices Sheel Nagu, GS Sandhawalia, and Justice Anu Sivaraman has released a damning report on Justice Yashwant Varma, concluding serious misconduct surrounding the recovery of burnt currency at his official residence earlier this year.

Top Findings from the Report:

Cash Confirmed at Scene: At least ten fire and police officials confirmed spotting half-burnt cash in a storeroom at Varma’s residence following a fire on March 14, 2025.

Electronic Evidence Supports Claims: Forensic video and audio evidence corroborated witness accounts, including voices of Justice Varma's domestic staff near the storeroom.

Staff Refused to Testify Against Varma: While Varma’s domestic staff denied knowledge of the cash, independent witnesses offered consistent, credible testimony, the panel noted.

Daughter’s Contradictory Statement: Justice Varma’s daughter, Diya Varma, initially acknowledged knowing about the cash but later retracted. The committee found her retraction unconvincing.

CCTV Data “Conveniently Lost”: Varma claimed CCTV footage was unavailable, blaming hardware failure. The committee noted he had 10 days to secure the footage before it was sealed.

Access to Store Room Was Restricted: Despite Varma's claim that anyone could access the storeroom, the panel found it was securely under family control, monitored by guards.

No Effort to Report Incident: Neither Varma nor his family reported the incident or sought to preserve CCTV evidence. He quietly accepted his transfer to the Allahabad High Court without protest.

No Proof of Conspiracy: Varma's claim of a conspiracy lacked any supporting evidence. The panel found inconsistencies in his statements about access and awareness of the incident.

Unexplained Cash Presence: Varma failed to explain the source of the cash or identify any owner. The burden of proof, the panel said, rested on him—he failed to meet it.

Cash Removed by Personal Staff: The committee concluded that trusted aides, including his private secretary and house help, removed the half-burnt cash after fire and police officials left.