Latest news with #Varma
Time of India
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Delhi Judge Cash Row: SC Probe Panel Report Says Misconduct Proved, Proposes Justice Varma's Removal
A Supreme Court-appointed panel has recommended the removal of Justice Yashwant Varma after finding 'clear and serious misconduct' linked to a late-night fire at his Delhi residence. The panel cited strong evidence of large amounts of burnt cash and suspicious removal of currency soon after the fire. Justice Varma's explanations and his daughter's testimony were found inconsistent. Following the report, former CJI Sanjiv Khanna had written to the President and the Prime Minister, calling for impeachment, marking a critical test of transparency in the Indian judiciary.#justiceyashwantvarma #delhihighcourt #judgeimpeachment #judicialmisconduct #burntcash #supremecourt #sanjivkhanna #impeachment #judicialintegrity #publictrust #indianjudiciary #courtscandal #legalnews #indiajustice #judicialaccountability #firecontroversy #varmafire #delhicourt #judiciaryscandal #cashscandal #highcourt #legalethics #indiajudiciary #judicialprobe #explainer #toi #toibharat Read More
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
SC panel flags 'unnatural conduct' in Justice Varma inquiry; report sparks demand for judicial accountability
New Delhi [India], June 19 (ANI): A 64-page report submitted by a high-powered Judicial Inquiry Committee has cast a spotlight on Justice Yashwant Varma, formerly of the Delhi High Court and now transferred to the Allahabad High Court. The committee, constituted by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on March 22, concluded that there is credible and serious evidence of misconduct following the discovery of burnt currency at Varma's official residence. The report prepared by a panel comprising Chief Justices Sheel Nagu, GS Sandhawalia, and Justice Anu Sivaraman delivered searing observations about Justice Varma's conduct, suggesting he failed to uphold 'Universally Accepted Values of Judicial Life.' At the heart of the controversy lies the recovery of partially incinerated cash in the early hours of March 15 from a store room in 30 Tughlak Crescent, an official residence under Varma's control. The panel, citing witness statements and electronic surveillance, concluded that 'the burnt currency was removed covertly with active awareness or complicity,' prompting questions about why no formal complaint or disclosure was made by the judge. Further fanning suspicions was the manner of Justice Varma's transfer. Despite having time to seek clarification or raise objections, he promptly accepted the March 20 repatriation order to Allahabad High Court 'without demur,' raising eyebrows within the judicial fraternity. The report remarks that such readiness, absent consultations or queries, is 'uncharacteristic of a judge with a clean record.' The inquiry, supported by testimonies from 55 witnesses, including Justice Varma himself, points to a troubling pattern of omissions and questionable choices. While not declaring outright guilt, the committee recommends initiation of proceedings for Varma's removal, marking a rare and serious development in India's judicial history. (ANI)
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Top news of the day: June 19, 2025
Cash discovery row: Piles of currency notes found in Justice Varma's gutted storeroom, says inquiry committee report An in-house inquiry committee constituted by the Chief Justice of India concluded that cash was found in the gutted storeroom at the official residential premises of High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma, and police and fire authorities were 'slipshod' in not lodging an FIR or preparing a seizure memo recording exactly what they came across at the scene of the fire on March 14-15. Israel threatens Iran's Khamenei after missiles damage hospital and wound over 200 Israel's Defence Minister overtly threatened Iran's Supreme Leader on Thursday (June 19, 2025) after the latest missile barrage from Iran damaged the main hospital in southern Israel and hit several other residential buildings near Tel Aviv. Israel meanwhile struck a heavy water reactor that is part of Iran's nuclear program. 'Those who speak English in India will soon feel ashamed': Amit Shah Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Thursday (June 19, 2025) that those who speak English in India would 'soon feel ashamed' and that the creation of such a society was not far away. He added that without Indian languages, 'we cease to be truly Indian'. 'Thug Life' release in Karnataka: Unending 'litany of hurt sentiments' cannot choke free speech in films, says Supreme Court The Supreme Court on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said an unending 'litany of hurt sentiments' has become a cause of mob violence and threats against free speech and expression in films, literature and theatre in 'undivided India'. A Vacation Bench of Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan stressed that the State has a duty to ensure that 'these mobs, groups who threaten people are taken to task'. Free speech in films cannot live in lurking fear of violence, Justice Bhuyan said. Change in Manipur admin inevitable, popular govt should be formed: Assembly speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly Speaker Thokchom Satyabrata Singh on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said a change in the administration in the state, which is currently under the President's rule, is inevitable. He also said a popular government should be formed in Manipur, which has been witnessing ethnic violence since May 2023. Centre's stand on Keeladi report an onslaught on Tamil culture: T.N. CM Stalin DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Thursday (June 19, 2025), described the BJP-led Union government's decision to not publish the Keeladi excavation report on the grounds that it lacked sufficient evidence was an 'onslaught on Tamil culture.' FIR filed against 'Kesari Chapter 2' for 'distorting history' of Bengali freedom fighters An FIR has been registered against the producers of the film Kesari Chapter 2 at the Bidhannagar South police station in West Bengal, following allegations of misrepresenting historical facts related to the state's freedom fighters. The complaint, filed by Ranajit Biswas, a resident of Nabapally, accuses the film of inaccurately portraying prominent Bengali revolutionaries. According to the FIR, the film refers to Khudiram Bose as 'Khudiram Singh' and identifies Barindra Kumar Ghosh as 'Birendra Kumar' from Amritsar. The film is currently streaming on Jio Hotstar. Shashi Tharoor says he has 'differences of opinion' with some in Congress leadership Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday (June 19, 2025) said that he has 'differences of opinion' with some in the party leadership, but he is not going to talk about them in view of the bypoll in Nilambur constituency.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Sport
- Business Standard
Indian batter Tilak Varma joins Hampshire for county championship matches
Young India batter Tilak Varma has signed with Hampshire to play four matches in the ongoing Rothesay County Championship between June 22 and August 1. The 22-year-old left-handed allrounder from Hyderabad will be available for Hampshire's next four fixtures, beginning with their away clash against Essex at Chelmsford from June 22-25. Varma has represented India in 29 matches, including 25 T20Is, scoring 749 runs with two centuries -- both against South Africa in November 2024 -- and three fifties, including an unbeaten 72 against England earlier this year. A rising T20 star, Varma made his debut in the format in 2019 and was picked by Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2022 IPL season. Since then, he has scored just under 1,500 runs in 54 matches for the franchise at an average of 37.47 and a strike rate of 144.41, including eight fifties. As of June 2025, he holds the second-highest average in T20Is -- 49.93 -- the best among batters from ICC full-member nations. "It's fantastic to have Tilak available for the next four County Championship matches," said Giles White, Hampshire's Director of Cricket. "He's an exciting talent who has already made a big impact on the international stage and in the IPL, and we look forward to seeing what he can do for Hampshire this summer." Varma also has a strong red-ball resume, having played 18 first-class matches, including appearances for India A in the Duleep Trophy and against England Lions earlier this year. He has scored over 1,200 runs with five centuries and four fifties at an impressive average of 50.16. Hampshire currently sit seventh in Division One after finishing runners-up last season -- their best result since 2005. After the Essex match, Varma is expected to make his home debut for Hampshire against Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl from June 29-July 2.
Mint
2 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
‘Misconduct found serious enough': 3-judge panel's findings about Justice Yashwant Varma's cash recovery case
The misconduct found proved serious enough to call for the initiation of proceedings for the removal of High Court Justice Yashwant Varma, the three-judge panel formed to probe allegations has recommended. The panel also found the allegation of cash recovery from Justice Varma's official residence to be true and concluded that the burnt cash was removed from the residence's storeroom. The three-member committee, set up by the Supreme Court, had confirmed the presence of cash found at High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma's residence in New Delhi after a fire broke out there around Holi on March 14. On May 8, the then Chief Justice of India(CJI) Sanjiv Khanna forwarded the findings of a three-judge in-house committee set up to investigate allegations of corruption against Justice Yashwant Varma to both the President and the Prime Minister of India. The 64-page report, first published by legal news website Bar and Bench, concludes saying that cash was recovered from the store room of Justice Varma's official residence in the national capital. 'Cash/money was found in the store room of 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi officially occupied by Justice (Yashwant) Varma' and that the'access to the store room has been found to be within the covert or active control of Justice Varma and his family members and that by way of strong inferential evidence, it is established that the burnt cash/money was got removed from the store room during the wee hours of 15.03.2025 from 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi'. The panel recommended that the misconduct found proved serious enough to warrant the initiation of proceedings to remove Justice Varma. 'Keeping in view the direct and electronic evidence on record, this Committee is firmly of the view that there is sufficient substance in the allegations raised in the letter of Hon'ble the Chief Justice of India dated 22.03.2025 and the misconduct found proved is serious enough to call for initiation of proceedings for removal of Justice Yashwant Varma, Judge of the Allahabad High Court,' it said. As many as 10 witnesses examined by the panel acknowledged having seen burnt or half-burnt currency notes, the report said 'As I entered, I noticed that on the right hand side and in front, there was large pile of cash only of Rs. 500/- denomination lying on the floor. I am not sure whether any such notes of Rs. 500/- denomination were there on the ledge or not. I was shocked and surprised such large amount of cash which was strewn on the floor, which I saw for the first time in my life,' said a witness quoted in the report. The President has referred the former CJI's recommendation to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha Speaker, according to media reports. At least 50 members need to back the impeachment motion against a judge of the constitutional court to be considered in the Rajya Sabha. In the Lok Sabha, it has to be backed by at least 100 members. If Justice Varma is removed, he will be the first judge of a constitutional court to be sacked. The process of impeachment is likely to be initiated by the offices of the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman in the upcoming session of the Parliament. The Monsoon session of Parliament to be held from July 21 to August 12. Here is what else the report by the three-judge panel has said: -The burden to prove this assertion was upon this Committee. This burden has been discharged by this Committee by recording the aforesaid findings based on statements of eyewitnesses corroborated by electronic evidence of still photographs and videos, which have been proved to have been shot by the said eyewitnesses at the coordinates which coincide with the location of the store room. More so, the discussion supra reveals a number of corroborative pieces of evidence to establish that the burnt currency notes were seen and found in the store room by the firemen as well as police personnel. -It is only when this Committee found the factum of burnt currency having been seen and found in the store room to be established, the burden shifted upon Justice Varma to raise his defence by disproving the aforesaid factum. As explained above, Justice Varma has failed to discharge this burden, compelling this Committee to hold that the burnt cash was found in the store room in the night intervening 14/15.03.20." -Where presence of burnt cash in the store room is established, it is for Justice Varma to account for the same by either successfully raising a defence of planting of cash in the store room which he failed to do or proving the defence of conspiracy theory by adducing evidence/material that the money/cash did not belong to him but to someone else by disclosing the identity of the real owner of the cash. Not having done so, Justice Varma cannot be helped and therefore, this Committee holds that the money/cash was found in the store room located within the premises of 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi occupied by Justice Varma, the source of which could not be accounted for by Justice Varma. The misconduct found proved serious enough to warrant the initiation of proceedings to remove Justice Varma. -In the absence of any plausible explanation coming from Justice Varma or his family members or for that matter any other witness, this Committee is left with no option, but to hold that the trust reposed in him was belied by him by allowing highly suspicious material in the shape of piles of currency notes to be stashed in the store room. Whether this stashing was done with tacit or explicit consent of Justice Varma or his family members is of little significance in the face of larger concept of breach of public trust and property expected of the high constitutional office held by Justice Varma,' the panel held.
