Justice Yashwant Varma Under Scrutiny After Tughlak Crescent Fire: Committee Raises Doubts Over Conduct and Burnt Cash Discovery
New Delhi, May 31 – A high-level inquiry committee appointed by the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has raised troubling questions about the conduct of Justice Yashwant Varma following a mysterious fire at his official residence on 14 March. The committee’s report, submitted earlier this month, casts doubt on Varma’s statements, his delayed response to the incident, and the unexplained presence of burnt currency notes discovered in the aftermath.
The findings, as reported by IANS, paint a disturbing picture of inconsistencies, omissions, and unusual behavior that could severely undermine public confidence in the judiciary. Justice Varma, who has served as a Delhi High Court judge for nearly a decade, is now facing intense scrutiny for his handling of the situation and his lack of transparency.
Panel Formed After Fire Incident at 30 Tughlak Crescent
The probe was initiated after a fire broke out on March 14 at Justice Varma’s official bungalow in the highly secure 30 Tughlak Crescent area of New Delhi. The blaze reportedly gutted a storeroom, destroying various household items and—most controversially—large sums of cash, which were later found in a burnt condition.
Justice Varma was not at home during the incident, as he had been in Bhopal on a Holi vacation. He returned on the evening of March 15, allegedly after being informed of the incident and out of concern for his family. But the committee found several anomalies in his behavior post-return, especially his failure to personally inspect the fire site immediately.
Unnatural Delay in Inspecting Fire Scene
According to the panel’s findings, Justice Varma did not visit the affected storeroom upon his return to Delhi. Instead, he spoke briefly with family members and domestic staff and later retreated to his camp office. He only visited the site after 9:00 PM, when a Personal Private Secretary (PPS) of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice prompted him to do so.
Sources close to the committee say this conduct appeared "unnatural" and out of character for someone concerned about fire damage to personal property. The committee noted that any ordinary homeowner—or senior public servant—would have immediately assessed the damage first-hand, regardless of whether anyone had been injured.
Suspicious Cleaning Without Authorization
Adding to the confusion is the reported clean-up of the site before Justice Varma’s return. The committee questioned how and why this occurred in the absence of the homeowner and without any direct instructions. The report strongly suggests the possible removal or tampering of evidence, including burnt currency, during this early and unauthorized clean-up operation.
This lack of control over the fire site, combined with Justice Varma's detached response, has led the committee to suspect an intentional delay in investigating the circumstances of the fire.
Burnt Currency and Disputed Cause of Fire
One of the most damning aspects of the report involves the discovery of burnt currency notes in the storeroom—an item Justice Varma failed to mention in his initial statements. His official response on March 22 claimed that only “household items” had been damaged in the fire. However, eyewitness accounts and photographic evidence contradict this, indicating that stacks of currency had also been affected.
Justice Varma maintained that the fire was caused by a short circuit, but the committee found that he only described the incident as "arson" after the Delhi High Court's Chief Justice used the term to initiate an official visit. This delayed characterization raised concerns about whether Justice Varma was trying to control the narrative instead of presenting facts transparently.
Conspiracy Theory Without Basis
In his written defense, Justice Varma alleged a conspiracy to malign his reputation, suggesting that videos and reports circulated after the fire were part of a targeted campaign. However, the committee noted that he failed to name any individuals, provide evidence, or explain why such a conspiracy would exist.
“The theory lacks motive, names, and substantiation,” sources close to the inquiry revealed. The report concluded that the conspiracy claim was unsupported and possibly a deflection from the serious findings of the probe.
Close Aides Under Suspicion
Another worrying dimension of the report involves the role of Justice Varma’s household staff and private secretary. Evidence suggests that some aides may have participated in removing burnt currency in the early hours of March 15—after fire personnel had left but before the judge returned from Bhopal.
The committee found that none of these actions were disclosed or explained by Justice Varma or his staff in any formal communication, further eroding the credibility of his account.
Security Claims Rejected
Justice Varma also argued that his residence was “porous” and vulnerable to outsiders potentially planting evidence. But the committee categorically dismissed this theory, citing tight security arrangements at the bungalow: a static security detail, a personal security officer (PSO) posted at the gate, and long-serving domestic staff who are thoroughly vetted.
“Given the secure environment, it is nearly impossible for an outsider to enter and plant burnt currency in the storeroom,” said sources familiar with the panel’s findings.
Acceptance of Transfer Order Raises Eyebrows
Perhaps most notably, the committee found it suspicious that Justice Varma accepted a transfer order just six days after the fire—without protest or discussion with his family. For a judge with a long tenure in the Delhi High Court, this swift acceptance of reassignment raised serious questions about whether he was attempting to exit the spotlight following the scandal.
Public Trust and Institutional Integrity at Risk
The committee concluded that Justice Varma’s behavior—marked by evasiveness, unexplained actions, and factual inconsistencies—has caused a breach of public trust. The presence of unaccounted-for cash in a judge’s residence, combined with questionable post-incident conduct, has the potential to erode confidence in the judiciary, say legal observers.
A senior Delhi-based advocate, speaking anonymously, noted, “If these findings are accurate, it would not only reflect poorly on Justice Varma but also raise red flags about how such cases are handled internally. The system must be transparent and accountable, especially at the highest levels.”
Next Steps: Unclear but Crucial
As of now, there has been no official response from Justice Varma regarding the committee’s final report. It remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court or the Ministry of Law and Justice will take disciplinary action or pursue further investigation based on these damning revelations.
The incident has sparked calls for greater judicial accountability and transparency, with experts suggesting that the case may serve as a turning point in how internal judicial inquiries are conducted in the future.
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