A Lok Sabha inquiry committee has declared former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma guilty, citing his 'evasive and unsatisfactory' explanation regarding unaccounted cash found at his official residence and the subsequent loss of evidence. The parliamentary report criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in Varma's response to the fire incident that revealed the cash, highlighting his failure to preserve crucial evidence. While the committee did not find direct evidence of Varma personally removing the money, the findings underscore concerns about judicial accountability and the handling of financial improprieties within the judiciary.

A Lok Sabha inquiry committee has declared former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma guilty, citing his 'evasive and unsatisfactory' explanation regarding unaccounted cash found at his official residence and the subsequent loss of evidence. The parliamentary report criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in Varma's response to the fire incident that revealed the cash, highlighting his failure to preserve crucial evidence. While the committee did not find direct evidence of Varma personally removing the money, the findings underscore concerns about judicial accountability and the handling of financial improprieties within the judiciary.

A Lok Sabha inquiry committee has declared former Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma guilty, citing his 'evasive and unsatisfactory' explanation regarding unaccounted cash found at his official residence and the subsequent loss of evidence. The parliamentary report criticized the lack of transparency and accountability in Varma's response to the fire incident that revealed the cash, highlighting his failure to preserve crucial evidence. While the committee did not find direct evidence of Varma personally removing the money, the findings underscore concerns about judicial accountability and the handling of financial improprieties within the judiciary.

Yashwant Varma, the former Delhi High Court Judge who resigned from his post after unaccounted cash was recovered from his official residence last year, has been found guilty by a Lok Sabha inquiry committee.

The panel found Varma’s explanation for the Unaccounted case ‘evasive and unsatisfactory’.

The report, which was tabled in both houses of Parliament on Wednesday, said that the judge's explanation “did not exhibit the candour, transparency and institutional responsibility expected in the circumstances”.

In March 2025, a large amount of unaccounted, partially burned Rs 500 currency notes was found in the outhouse of Varma's residence at 30, Tughlaq Crescent, New Delhi, after a fire. The cash was found by firefighters.

The discovery triggered outrage and allegations of judicial corruption

Varma had died; all the allegations of financial impropriety and knowledge of the cash.

The panel noted that “evidentiary condition of the storeroom was disturbed before lawful sealing and inspection”, the report said: “...the later non-availability of the currency notes remains unexplained.”

The report also said that the loss of material evidence occurred because Varma failed to preserve evidence and allowed the disturbance of the storeroom by staff attached to the premises.

The committee also noted that they did not find proof that the judge personally removed the cash.

The report was in two volumes and contained oral and documentary evidence recorded during the investigation.

Varma has since then resigned, making the removal proceedings against him inactive. His resignation had not yet been notified by the law ministry.

He was a judge of the Delhi High Court and later was repatriated to his parent court, the Allahabad High Court, after the controversy.

The findings in the case were submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in May.

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