"Cheap publicity": SC dismisses plea seeking criminal probe into Justice Yashwant Varma cash incident

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking criminal action against former Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma over the alleged recovery of burnt currency notes from his official residence, saying it was filed for "cheap publicity."

A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe dismissed the petition filed by advocate Ghanshyam Upadhayay, who sought registration of an FIR and a court-monitored probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the incident.

Arguing in person, Upadhayay contended that Justice Varma's resignation from office did not extinguish any criminal liability arising from the alleged recovery of unaccounted cash.


Read more: Justice Yashwant Varma resigns amid cash recovery row

"An earlier petition was dismissed on the technical ground that no complaint had been filed before approaching this Court. It has now been done. A High Court judge has been held to be a public servant. He has also retired now. There is no immunity from prosecution," Upadhyay submitted.

The bench, however, declined to examine his plea.

"All cheap publicity. We are not inclined to entertain this. Dismissed," said the bench.

The cash was allegedly found by fire tenders when a fire broke out in the judge's residence on March 14, 2025 at his New Delhi residence, when he was the judge of the Delhi High Court. The judge was not present at his house.

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The incident occurred on March 14, following a fire at his Lutyens' Delhi home, during which semi-burnt wads of cash were reportedly found.

Justice Varma was later transferred from the Delhi High Court back to the Allahabad High Court following a controversy. He took the oath in Allahabad on April 5, 2025.

Justice Varma had resigned on April 19 this year since from his position as a judge of the Allahabad High Court.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha formed a three-member Inquiry Committee to investigate the charges against Justice Varma. The Lok Sabha Speaker's decision came after he received a notice of the motion, signed by 146 Members of Parliament, seeking Justice Yashwant Varma's removal.

Supreme Court had earlier also formed a three-member judges inquiry panel, which found substance in allegations of presence piles of burnt and unburnt cash at the residence of Justice Varma after examining more than 55 witnesses. The panel indicted Justice Varma for his misconduct, resulting in recommendation for his removal.