Burnt ₹500 Notes Found Near Justice Varma’s House Amid Cash Recovery Probe
Burnt ₹500 notes discovered in debris near Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence have fueled speculation, as a Supreme Court-ordered inquiry probes allegations of cash recovery from his home after a fire incident.
On March 23, 2025, sanitation workers reported finding burnt ₹500 notes in garbage near Justice Varma’s Delhi residence. A video shared by ANI showed charred currency amid debris, intensifying scrutiny in an ongoing judicial investigation.
Inderjeet, a sanitation worker, told ANI, “We found small pieces of burnt ₹500 notes 4-5 days ago while collecting garbage. Today, we found 1-2 more pieces.” Surender, another worker, confirmed similar discoveries, noting they were unaware of the fire’s origin.
Justice Varma, in a response to Delhi HC Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, said, “My reputation has been gravely tarnished by baseless claims. I reject any suggestion that we stored or removed cash from the storeroom.” He called the allegations “unfounded.”
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The controversy began after a fire at Varma’s residence on March 14. Emergency responders allegedly found cash during firefighting efforts, prompting a Supreme Court in-house inquiry. Varma insists no currency was recovered from the scene.
On Saturday night, the Supreme Court uploaded a 25-page inquiry report, including photos and videos, detailing the alleged cash find. CJI Sanjiv Khanna formed a three-judge panel and barred Varma from judicial work pending the probe.
Varma argued, “The limited debris was confined to a section of the residence, and there was no evidence of currency.” He emphasized that the storeroom was separate from his living quarters and accessible to multiple people.
The three-judge committee will investigate the cash recovery claims and review Varma’s response. The probe’s outcome, expected soon, will decide further action, as the judiciary addresses this high-stakes controversy.
