Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, investigating the alleged cash found case from Justice Yashwant Verma's government residence, has submitted his report to Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Based on this investigation report, further action will be taken. Justice Yashwant Verma came into the spotlight when news surfaced about large amounts of cash allegedly discovered at his official residence.
On the night of March 14, during Holi festivities, a fire incident occurred at Justice Verma's official residence in Lutyens' Delhi. Justice Verma was not at home, having traveled out of Delhi for work. His family members sought help from the fire brigade. The Delhi Fire Department promptly dispatched a team to the judge's home. Subsequently, media reports emerged, suggesting that a significant amount of cash was observed during firefighting efforts at Justice Verma's residence.
Read More: Did Cash Found at Justice Verma's Home? Fire Department Chief's Statement Adds to Suspense
Justice Yashwant Verma Transferred to Allahabad High Court
Meanwhile, on March 20, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna convened a meeting of the Supreme Court Collegium. During this meeting, a proposal was brought forth for Justice Verma's transfer to the Allahabad High Court. Furthermore, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court was tasked with investigating this matter. The decision on Justice Verma's transfer will be taken based on this investigative report. However, the case took a new twist when Delhi Fire Brigade Chief Atul Garg claimed that no cash was discovered by firefighters during the blaze at Justice Yashwant Verma's residence.
Delhi Fire Department Denies Finding Cash
Atul Garg stated, 'On the night of March 14, at 11:35 p.m., the control room was informed of a fire at Justice Verma's residence. Two fire engines were immediately dispatched to the location, arriving at 11:43 p.m. The fire was in a storage room filled with stationery and household items, and it took firefighters 15 minutes to control it. We informed the police right after extinguishing the fire. Our personnel did not find any cash during the firefighting operation.'
Read More: Justice Yashwant Verma Cash Scandal: Understanding the Challenge of Removing a High Court Judge
Justice Yashwant Verma did not attend the Delhi High Court on Friday and has yet to respond to the accusations levelled against him. He currently presides over benches handling significant cases like sales tax, GST, and company appeals. Justice Yashwant Verma was appointed to the Delhi High Court on October 11, 2021.
Opposition to Verma's Transfer to Allahabad High Court
In the meantime, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association has launched a protest against Justice Yashwant Verma's transfer. Bar Association President Anil Tiwari stated, 'Allahabad High Court is neither a dumping ground nor a hub of corruption, where any judge accused of misconduct can be transferred. The decision of the Supreme Court Collegium appears to undermine the integrity of the Allahabad High Court, but the Bar Association will never allow that. Its duty is to maintain the public's faith in the judiciary.'
