Prayagraj, April 05, 2025 – Justice Yashwant Varma was sworn in today as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, marking his return to his parent court after a tumultuous period defined by a high-profile cash scandal and widespread opposition to his transfer. Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, administered the oath to Justice Varma.
Born on January 6, 1969, in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Justice Varma has had a distinguished legal career. After earning a B.Com (Hons) from Hansraj College, Delhi University, and an LLB from Rewa University, he enrolled as an advocate in 1992. He rose through the ranks at the Allahabad High Court, serving as an Additional Judge in 2014 and a Permanent Judge in 2016, before transferring to the Delhi High Court in 2021. Notable rulings include granting bail to Dr. Kafeel Khan in 2018 and rejecting the Congress party’s tax reassessment plea in 2024.
Justice Varma’s journey back to the Allahabad High Court began with a dramatic incident on March 14, 2025, during the Holi festivities. A fire broke out at his official residence in Lutyens Delhi, a government-allotted bungalow at 30 Tughlaq Crescent. Firefighters, summoned to extinguish the blaze, reportedly stumbled upon a significant amount of unaccounted cash—estimated at Rs 15 crore—in a storeroom adjacent to the guard quarters. Justice Varma, who was in Bhopal at the time, returned to Delhi the following day as the discovery triggered immediate scrutiny.
Initial reports from the Delhi Fire Services were inconsistent. Chief Atul Garg first denied finding any cash but later retracted his statement, adding to the confusion. Video evidence and photographs of burnt currency notes soon surfaced, escalating the situation. The Delhi Police informed Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, who promptly convened the Supreme Court Collegium to address the crisis.
Justice Varma has vehemently denied any connection to the cash, labeling the allegations a “conspiracy” to tarnish his reputation. In a letter to Delhi High Court Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya, he stated, “I unequivocally state that no cash was ever placed in that storeroom by me or any of my family members. The suggestion that this cash belonged to us is preposterous.” He emphasized that the storeroom was unlocked and accessible to staff, implying it could have been planted or stored by others.
Opposition to the Transfer
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has been at the forefront of resisting Justice Varma’s repatriation. On March 24, President Anil Tiwari led protests at Gate Number 3 of the court, arguing that transferring Varma without resolving the allegations undermined judicial credibility. “Our fight is against corruption and a system lacking transparency,” Tiwari told reporters, demanding Varma’s impeachment rather than a mere transfer.
The association’s indefinite strike, which began on March 25, garnered support from bar associations in Varanasi and other states, amplifying calls for a criminal investigation. Critics argued that the transfer appeared to be a superficial fix, with the bar asserting, “All judgments delivered by Justice Varma should be reviewed to restore public faith.” The Supreme Court’s clarification—that the transfer was separate from the inquiry—did little to quell the unrest.
On April 2, a PIL filed by local advocates sought to halt Varma’s oath-taking, alleging that his presence would erode trust in the judiciary. Despite these efforts, the ceremony proceeded, though under a cloud of uncertainty as the inquiry committee has yet to submit its findings.
