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Cash-at-Home Case: Inquiry Panel Finds 3 Charges Against Justice Yashwant Varma Proven
New Delhi: The inquiry committee report into the controversial cash-at-home case involving former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma was tabled in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, concluding that all three charges levelled against him were proved. The three-member panel, which examined the circumstances surrounding the recovery of a large quantity of unaccounted cash from the storeroom of Justice Varma’s official residence at 30 Tughlaq Crescent, found his explanations regarding the money unsatisfactory.
The report said the cash, found largely in ₹500 denomination notes, raised serious questions about its source, ownership and why such a substantial amount was kept on the premises. According to the committee, the sheer volume of cash made it difficult to accept that its presence could have remained completely unknown.
The panel also flagged significant lapses in the preservation and handling of evidence, observing that the condition of the storeroom was altered before formal sealing and verification and that questions remained over currency notes that were subsequently found to be unavailable.
The committee further examined Justice Varma’s written response dated March 22, 2025, and concluded that parts of his explanation were unsatisfactory, lacked clarity and did not adequately address the circumstances surrounding the recovery.
Based on witness statements, documentary material and other evidence examined during the inquiry, the panel held all three charges to be established. At the same time, the committee found no evidence pointing to any conspiracy behind the incident.
One major question, however, remains unanswered: the panel could not establish with certainty the exact amount of cash that was present in the storeroom when the incident came to light. Thus, while the findings have established serious wrongdoing and raised concerns over evidence preservation and accountability, the precise value of the cash involved continues to remain unclear.
