Cash Row: Judge Faces Serious Repercussions as In-House Inquiry Reaches Critical Stage

The “cash row” incident involves a Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, whose residence in Lutyens’ Delhi caught fire on March 14. During the firefighting efforts, authorities reportedly discovered four to five semi-burnt sacks containing Indian currency notes. This led to an in-house inquiry initiated by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, who formed a three-member panel to investigate the matter.

The inquiry has now entered its second stage, which involves a deeper probe into the allegations. This stage is critical, as it could lead to serious consequences for the judge if misconduct is proven. The panel includes Chief Justices from Punjab and Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and a Karnataka High Court judge. The findings of this investigation will determine the judge’s fate.

The process follows a seven-step in-house procedure established by the Supreme Court in 2014 for investigating allegations against sitting judges. The second stage, overseen by the Chief Justice of India, ensures a fair and thorough examination of the allegations.