India’s Supreme Court Justice Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-member committee on Saturday to investigate the allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma.
After receiving a report from Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyay, CJI Khanna ordered an internal investigation and asked Judge Yashwant Varma not to assign judicial activities.
The investigation committee consists of Justice Sir Nag, the Supreme Court of Punjab and Haryana High Courts. Judge GS Sandhawaria, Supreme Court Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, and Judge Anushibaraman, Karnataka High Court.
“For the time being, the Supreme Court of Delhi’s High Court has been asked not to assign judicial activities to Judge Yashwant Balma. Reports submitted by the Supreme Court Judge of Delhi’s High Court, the response of Judge Yashwant Balma, and other documents have been uploaded to the Supreme Court website,” the statement said.
When a fire broke out at the residence of Lutyens Delhi in Varma around 11:35pm on March 14th, a massive cash stash was discovered, prompting Delhi Fire Station officials to hurry and throw it in. However, Atul Gaag, chief of Delhi Fire Services, denied allegations of cash discovery by firefighters.
The case has created ripples in the legal circuit, criticizing the Supreme Court’s university’s decision to assign him, while many voices have called for the judge to resign.
The top court said in a statement on Friday that the Supreme Court of Delhi High Court has launched an internal investigation into him and separate proposals to move him to Allahabad High Court.
