Cash Exploration Line: CJI Forward Committee Report, Justice Varma’s response to the president and prime minister

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna has formally communicated with President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Justice Yashwant Varma, and also shared reports from a three-member panel appointed by the Supreme Court that asked about the so-called cash on March 14 at the residence of the then-December High Court judge.The letter includes copies of the report of the three member committee on May 3 and a response from Judge Varma, who is now a judge in the High Court of Allahabad, received on May 6.
Communications issued by the Supreme Court stated that the Chief Justice of India, in terms of internal proceedings, had written to the President of India, who closed a copy of the 3-year membership committee report on May 3, as well as a letter/response from May 6 and received it from the judicial judge Yashwant Varma.
According to internal investigation procedures, whether the Chief Justice of India (CJI) believes it is necessary to target the judges concerned, forwarding the investigation report to the government. However, the Supreme Court has not yet published its investigation report.

Earlier this week, the panel of judges was tasked with an internal investigation, which was filed on May 4 for the charges of cash at the official residence of Yashwant Varma with Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

According to official communications from the Supreme Court, it is composed of the Chief Justice of the Punjab High Court, Nagu Judicial Committee; Chief Justice of Himaal Pradesh High Court, Judge GS Sandhawalia; and Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice Anu Sivaraman, introduced his investigation in a report on May 3, 2025 and filed an investigation in a report that subsequently submitted the Chief Justice of India to the Chief Justice of India on May 4. The chief justice of India constituted the charges to review Judge Yashwant varma on March 22. In exceptional and controversial circumstances, the judge of the Allahabad High Court was sworn in. Deviating from the habit of public rituals, his oath was conducted privately, a decision that came under major scrutiny. This development is associated with an ongoing investigation into allegations of recovering partially burned cash in the residence a few weeks ago. Court insiders said that despite his formal entry, Judge Woma has not been assigned any judicial or administrative liability.

His transfer from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court was suspicious of transfer, especially after the public interest litigation (PIL) was filed on the Lucknow bench in the Allahabad High Court. PIL urged the Chief Justice to postpone the oath of office until the investigation concluded.

The controversy aroused a strong reaction from the legal community. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association publicly criticized the university’s decision and expressed opposition through strong words to the Chief Justice and other judges. The association condemned the order, declared “we are not dumps” and called for greater transparency and accountability in judicial appointments.

As the investigation progresses, Justice Wama’s future role in the Allahabad High Court remains uncertain. Legal experts and observers continue to monitor development closely because this situation has attracted widespread attention to judicial integrity and the process of appointments within the scope of justice in India.

According to the official website of the Allahabad High Court, Judge Varma received his law degree from Reva University in 1992 and was recruited on August 8 of the same year. During his career, he has mainly practiced civil law and handled cases related to constitutional, industrial disputes, corporate affairs, taxation, environmental issues and related fields. Since 2006, he has served as Special Adviser to the Allahabad High Court until his promotion in 2012.