Allahabad high court judge Yashwant Varma has written a strongly worded letter to the Lok Sabha-constituted inquiry committee, alleging that the proceedings against him were marred by serious procedural lapses and unfairness.
Justice Varma tendered his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu on April 9, effectively bringing to a close the parliamentary inquiry into allegations arising from the recovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence in Delhi following a fire incident in March 2025.
In his 13-page letter, Justice Varma contended that the proceedings against him before the committee were marked by a predetermined approach, absence of credible evidence, and a lack of transparency.
He asserted that the inquiry was unfair from its very inception, suggesting that the outcome appeared pre-judged and that the process became a formality rather than a genuine fact-finding exercise.
Justice Varma also complained that he was not afforded a meaningful and effective opportunity to defend himself, alleging that key procedural safeguards were either diluted or ignored.
He questioned the evidentiary basis of the proceedings, particularly the reliance on video recordings purportedly showing cash at his official residence, and raised concerns about the chain of custody.
Justice Varma reiterated his categorical denial of any connection with the alleged cash discovered at his residence and lamented that the trial by media and the manner in which the inquiry was conducted effectively eroded the presumption of innocence and caused irreparable damage to his reputation.
