More Questions Are Raised Than Answered

The inquiry was conducted behind the judge's back; no right to cross-examination was afforded, nor was he given a personal hearing when sought. The report did not address the judge's submissions

- KAPIL SIBAL

On the night of March 14, 2025, remnants of burnt currency were found—for which a video is available—in the outhouse of the premises allotted to Justice Yashwant Varma, then a judge of the Delhi High Court.

This revelation raises serious questions which need to be answered. What was the quantum of currency that was found? Why was the currency not seized? Why was a panchnama not prepared by the Delhi Police present at the spot? Why was the outhouse not cordoned off to ensure that the scene of the incident was protected or secured? Why was the currency not preserved for inquiry and investigation? Why was an FIR not registered against unknown persons? To all these questions, the In-House Committee ("Committee") set up by the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court provides no answers; they are otherwise unavailable.

For all these questions, the Committee says that these were not within its remit. In the absence of any explanation for why the police acted as they did, the Committee concluded that since the currency was found in the outhouse of the judge's residence, it must have been placed there with the judge's tacit or active consent.