SC Rejects Urgent Plea in Delhi Judge Cash Scandal, Cites "Due Course

New Delhi:  The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an oral plea for an urgent hearing into a petition demanding an FIR into the burnt bundles of cash found earlier this month at the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma.

A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna told advocate Mathews J Nedumpara—one of the petitioners—not to make "public statements" and assured the matter would be listed in due course.

Cash Found on Holi, Delayed FIR Raises Concerns

The controversy erupted on Holi, when firefighters were called to douse flames in an outhouse on Justice Varma’s bungalow grounds, where the burnt cash was discovered. Petitioners raised questions on the delay in registering an FIR, alleging an attempted cover-up.

They also questioned why:
✅ No arrests were made
✅ No money was officially seized
✅ No criminal investigation was initiated
✅ Justice Varma himself did not file a complaint

Justice Varma, meanwhile, has distanced himself from the cash, calling it a "conspiracy" against him.

Judicial Probe, Political Fallout

A Supreme Court in-house panel—led by three High Court Chief Justices—is handling the probe, but petitioners are challenging its jurisdiction, citing a 1991 ruling that bars criminal cases against judges without the CJI’s approval.

The Union government has also stepped in, reaching out to political parties, including Congress, Trinamool, DMK, and Shiv Sena, to discuss concerns over judicial transparency.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court transferred Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court, a move initially linked to the cash controversy but later de-linked.