Chief Justice Recommends to Remove Cash Row Judge Yashwant Verma

Chief Justice Recommends to Remove Cash Row Judge Yashwant Verma

The allegations stem from the alleged recovery of a “big pile of burnt cash” from a storeroom connected to Justice Verma’s bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi.

By RMN Legal Desk
May 8, 2025

New Delhi: The Chief Justice of India has reportedly recommended initiating proceedings for the removal of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Verma, following a report from a three-member panel investigating allegations related to a significant amount of cash found at his residence.

Sources indicate that the Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, has written to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, enclosing a copy of the panel’s report dated 03.05.2025 along with a response received from Justice Yashwant Varma dated 06.05.2025.

According to an NDTV report of May 8, 2025, this action was taken in accordance with the “In-House Procedure”. While the specific contents of the panel’s report remain undisclosed, the sources confirm the recommendation to initiate a motion for Justice Verma’s removal.

The allegations stem from the alleged recovery of a “big pile of burnt cash” from a storeroom connected to Justice Verma’s bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi. The cash was reportedly discovered during a fire call on March 14, which coincided with Holi. Justice Verma, commenting on the matter, stated that the storeroom is utilised by multiple individuals and he was unaware of any cash being stored there.

A three-member committee was established to conduct an inquiry into these allegations. The panel comprised Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana; Justice GS Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh; and Justice Anu Sivaraman, a Judge of the Karnataka High Court. The committee submitted its report to Chief Justice Khanna on Sunday (May 4).

Prior to this development, following the emergence of the allegations, the Supreme Court collegium had recommended Justice Verma’s transfer from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. This recommendation received clearance from the Centre.

However, the transfer faced opposition from bar associations in Allahabad and Lucknow. Consequently, it was decided that Justice Verma would not be assigned any judicial work despite taking oath as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, pending the ongoing inquiry against him.