New Delhi: The Supreme Court late on Saturday night uploaded reports, photos and videos related to the allegations of unaccounted cash found at the official residence of current Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma. This is the first and rare case of its kind. The material available on the Supreme Court's website reveals the findings of the internal investigation and the detailed action of Justice Verma denying the allegations.
Delhi Police Commissioner had given the video
Earlier, Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora had shared a video with CJI Sanjeev Khanna and Delhi HC Chief Justice DK Upadhyay. It had allegedly revealed burnt cash at Justice Yashwant Verma's house on March 14. Now, it seems that the case has been set for a thorough investigation against the sitting Delhi HC judge. Earlier, Justice Verma had pleaded not guilty despite photo evidence and had alleged that he was being framed.
CJI asked Three questions
CJI Khanna on Friday asked the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to seek answers from Justice Verma on three questions. The first question is how does he (Justice Verma) account for the presence of money/cash in the room located in his premises. The second is to explain the source of the money/cash found in the said room. The third question is who is the person who removed the burnt money/cash from the room on the morning of March 15, 2025?
What's in the report to the Delhi HC Chief Justice?
In his report sent to the CJI, CJI Upadhyay said that Delhi Police chief Arora had shared a video of the alleged fire incident and cash found in Justice Verma's residence on the night of March 14. He said that when shown the video and asked about the source of the money and its presence in his official bungalow, Justice Verma expressed "some apprehension of a conspiracy against him". The Delhi CJI concluded by saying that it is my prima facie opinion that the entire matter needs a thorough investigation.
Information sought on Justice Verma's house guards
The CJI had also asked the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to find out the details of the official staff of the High Court Registry, private security officials and security guards deployed at Justice Verma's residence during the last six months. A request letter may be sent to the mobile service provider(s) to provide call record details of Justice Yashwant Verma's official or other mobile phone numbers for the last six months.
The CJI had also asked Justice Upadhyay to advise Justice Verma 'not to dispose of his mobile phone or delete or modify any conversation, message or data from his mobile phone'. In response, the Delhi HC Chief Justice wrote that the call detail record has been received and is being sent in a pen drive along with this letter. Regarding the IPDR, it will be made available to you immediately as soon as it is received from the Delhi Police Commissioner/Mobile Service Provider.
He further said that what amazes me is the complete absence of any sacks of the allegedly burnt notes ever being recovered or confiscated. He said that we categorically claim that neither my daughter, nor the PS nor the domestic staff were shown these so-called sacks of burnt notes.
