ustice Yashwant Varma remains silent on the controversy over crores of rupees allegedly found in his official bungalow, raising suspicions and confusion | (Photo Courtesy: X/Altered by FPJ)
Mumbai: If there is one person who can bring clarity to the massive scam rocking the judiciary, it is Justice Yashwant Varma (56). He is at the centre of a raging controversy over the reported discovery of crores of rupees in cash at his official bungalow in New Delhi on March 14. The Allahabad Bar Association has claimed that the amount was Rs 15 cr while sources say it is “much more” than that.
The Delhi Fire chief Atul Garg claimed on Friday that not a penny was found when his men went into the bungalow on March 14 to douse a fire. But on Saturday, he did a complete U turn which will make even the most shameless neta squirm in disbelief. Even though he had stated in front of television cameras on Friday that no cash was found, on Saturday Garg denied having ever said that. Is anyone putting pressure on him?
The Supreme Court collegium, which repatriated Justice Varma to the Allahabad high court on Friday, vastly added to the confusion when it claimed that the transfer had nothing to do with an in-house enquiry into the “incident” at the judge’s house.
If the transfer had nothing to do with the reports of the cash pile, then why did the collegium shunt him out? What was the provocation to do that? Even the most naive person will find it difficult to swallow the collegium’s claim.
And if nothing happened on March 14 night apart from the fire, what is it that the chief justice of the Delhi high court Justice D.K. Upadhya inquired into and submitted a report to the CJI Sanjeev Khanna? If cash indeed was found then the Delhi police should have filed an FIR and questioned the controversial judge. But no such thing has been done all these days.
The legal fraternity across the nation in particular is completely clueless as to what exactly happened on March 14 night. And only Justice Varma can throw light on the deeply murky situation. By maintaining a studied silence he is not only deepening the mystery, but also unwittingly giving credence to rumours that are flying thick and fast across the nation’s capital.
In fact, he is doing a distinct disservice to the judiciary by keeping mum at a time when not only his credibility but that of the entire judiciary is at stake. Anyone in his place, had he been innocent, would have immediately issued a denial about the cash and even proceeded legally against those who reported about the nocturnal discovery.
Will Justice Varma please stand up and come out with the truth so that the people’s faith in the only institution for which they have respect remains intact? The nation has a right to know the truth and the whole of it.
