Justice Varma failed to account for cash found at residence: SC panel

The money recovered in March from the storeroom of the New Delhi residence of Justice Yashwant Varma, then with the Delhi High Court, was unaccounted cash and he was unable to explain where it came from, which justifies his impeachment, according to the committee constituted to probe the allegations of cash discovery.

- BHAVINI MISHRA

"The factum of the burnt cash having been found in the store room was undeniably established and therefore, the burden shifted upon Justice Varma to account for the said cash/money by giving a plausible explanation which he failed to do except projecting a case of flat denial and raising a bald plea of conspiracy," the committee report said, adding that he was also unable to prove the money did not belong to him but to someone else. He did not disclose who the cash belonged to.

The committee also concluded that the storeroom, where the fire broke out and where the cash was found, was on the premises of the judge's residence.

The control of the room and permission to have access to it were with Justice Varma and his family members.