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Days after a three-member committee constituted by the Supreme Court began its inquiry into the conduct of Justice Yashwant Varma, Union Home Minister Amit Shah made his first public response to the controversy, saying that the panel’s decision should be awaited. Justice Varma has been embroiled in a controversy after wads of burnt currency were allegedly found at his Delhi home during a fire on March 14.
“In our judicial system, when such questions arise, as per the honourable Supreme Court’s judgment, a committee of judges will decide, and then the findings will be made public. I believe we should wait for the committee’s decision,” Shah said on Friday, hours after the Centre notified Justice Varma’s transfer from Delhi High Court to his parent high court in Allahabad.
Shah said that the Chief Justice of India (CJI) has taken cognisance of the matter and formed a committee. “A committee has been formed, and they are investigating. They are requesting documents from the Delhi Police, and Fire department… we are providing them and are cooperating with the investigation,” Shah said at the Times Now Summit 2025.
Asked about a contradiction related to the recovery of a large sum of cash, Shah dismissed the claims of discrepancies. “The fire chief never said that…They made a NIL in a seizure (section). Since we cannot register an FIR, how can a seizure take place? An FIR can only be registered with the permission of the CJI…We should wait for the committee’s decision,” he said.
On Friday, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice A S Oka declined to entertain a plea seeking the filing of an FIR against Justice Varma, saying it was open to the CJI to direct the registration if necessary on completion of the in-house inquiry.
The three-member committee of judges probing the discovery of cash at Justice Varma’s residence has so far recorded the statements of five police personnel who were among the first responders to the March 14 fire. The panel has also recorded the statements of three security personnel of Justice Varma, Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg, and three firefighters.
On Wednesday afternoon, following the directions of the panel, Devesh Kumar Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police, New Delhi district, sealed the storeroom where the cash was discovered after the fire.
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