Inquiry Committee Finds All Three Charges Against Justice Yashwant Varma Proved
An Inquiry Committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 has found all three charges against Justice Yashwant Varma proved. The report, laid before the Lok Sabha on 12 August 2026, concludes that substantial unexplained currency notes were present in his official residential premises, material evidence was not preserved, and his explanations were evasive and unsatisfactory.
The charges stem from a fire incident on the night of 14-15 March 2025 at Justice Varma's official residence at 30 Tughlaq Crescent, New Delhi, when he was a Delhi High Court judge. Delhi Fire Services and police personnel found burnt, half-burnt and wet Indian currency notes in a storeroom during firefighting operations.
The three-member committee was headed by Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, alongside Justice Shree Chandrashekhar (Chief Justice, Bombay High Court) and Senior Advocate B.V. Acharya. The inquiry followed a motion for removal admitted by the Lok Sabha Speaker under constitutional provisions for judicial removal.
