Cash Row: SC Collegium Moves Justice Yashwant Varma Back to Allahabad HC Amid Inquiry

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Collegium has issued a resolution to repatriate Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court following the discovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi.

The incident came to light after a fire broke out at his Tughlak Road residence on March 14. First responders, including Delhi Fire Services and police personnel, reportedly found stacks of cash in the storeroom, some of which were charred. At the time, Justice Varma and his wife were in Bhopal.

Justice Varma has denied any connection to the cash, calling it a “conspiracy to malign” him. While the Supreme Court Collegium recommended his transfer on March 20, some members pushed for a deeper probe. Concerns were raised about judicial accountability, with calls for an immediate in-house inquiry.

The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) strongly opposed the transfer, questioning whether their high court was being treated as a “trash bin” for controversial cases. Following this, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-member inquiry committee on March 22 to investigate the allegations.

Justice Varma was first appointed to the Allahabad High Court in 2016 and later transferred to Delhi in 2021. Before his elevation, he served as standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government.