'Not Kept By Me Or My Family': Delhi HC Judge Yashwant Varma After Huge Cash Found At His Home
Justice Varma described the accusations as a clear attempt to frame and defame him. His reply follows an in-house inquiry initiated by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma has strongly refuted allegations regarding the alleged discovery of currency at his official residence, asserting that neither he nor any of his family members ever placed cash in the storeroom.
In a response submitted to Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, Justice Varma described the accusations as a clear attempt to frame and defame him. His reply follows an in-house inquiry initiated by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
Justice Varma criticised the media for failing to verify facts before publishing claims that tarnished his reputation. He reiterated that he had no knowledge of any money or cash in the storeroom.
Denial of Any Involvement In Currency Storage
“Neither I nor any of my family members had any knowledge of cash, nor does it have any bearing or relation with us. No such cash or currency was shown to my family members or staff who were present on that fateful night,” Justice Varma stated.
He firmly denied any suggestion that he or his family removed currency from the storeroom. “We were neither shown nor handed any sacks of burnt currency. The limited debris salvaged from the fire remains at the residence,” he added.
Fire Incident At Official Residence
Detailing the sequence of events, Justice Varma explained that a fire broke out in the storeroom near the staff quarters of his official residence on the night of 14-15 March 2025.
The storeroom, he noted, was commonly used to store items such as unused furniture, bottles, crockery, mattresses, carpets, speakers, and garden tools. “This room is unlocked and accessible from both the official front gate and the backdoor of the staff quarters. It is disconnected from the main residence and is not part of my house, contrary to certain media reports,” he said.
On the night of the incident, Justice Varma and his wife were in Madhya Pradesh, leaving only their daughter and elderly mother at home. He returned to Delhi on 15 March via an Indigo flight from Bhopal.
When the fire broke out, Justice Varma’s daughter and private secretary promptly alerted the Fire Service. “Calls made by them would be duly recorded,” he said.
As firefighters worked to douse the flames, all household members and staff were moved away for safety. “After the fire was extinguished, no cash or currency was visible at the site,” he stated.
Justice Varma Dismisses Allegations As Baseless and Implausible
Justice Varma firmly rejected any suggestion that he stored cash in the storeroom, calling the idea “preposterous.” He emphasised that the storeroom, an openly accessible space near staff quarters, was an improbable location for hoarding money.
“It is a room completely separate from my living quarters, with a boundary wall demarcating my residence from the outhouse. I only wish the media had conducted a proper inquiry before publishing defamatory allegations,” he added.
The controversy erupted following the fire at Justice Varma’s Lutyens’ Delhi residence around 11:35 p.m. on 14 March, during Holi celebrations. Fire department personnel rushed to the scene to control the blaze.
On Friday, the Supreme Court confirmed that the Delhi High Court chief justice had initiated an in-house inquiry into the matter. Additionally, a proposal is under consideration to transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court.
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