Justice Yashwant Verma, Supreme Court
According to its report submitted to Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna, the in-house inquiry committee appointed by the Supreme Court has submitted a report during the fire on the night of 14 March. The report confirmed the case of getting cash at the house of High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Verma.
Sources aware of this development have confirmed that a report has been sent to Justice Yashwant Verma on the instructions of the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Justice Verma has been given two days to react to the findings.
It is understood that this has been done according to the principles of natural justice to ensure that Justice Verma can be given a proper opportunity to reply before taking further action.
Highly placed sources have confirmed that Justice Yashwant Verma has been given the option of resigning as a judge of the Allahabad High Court. If he refuses to resign, then the process of impeachment may have to be started.
Justice Verma can answer next week
Justice Verma is expected to present his reply before the CJI by the end of the week. The important thing is that sources have also told that CJI Sanjeev Khanna, who retired next week, wants to take a decision about future action before his post is removed from his post. This is expected to be one of the final major decisions taken by the outgoing CJI.
The CJI also met the Supreme Court judges before Monday’s proceedings. It is likely that during this meeting, judges may have been told about the findings of the report.
This detailed report includes the factual developments of the 14–15 March incident, which gives the details of the fire-limit of fire at Justice Verma’s residence, which received cash and emergency services. The report also reported who was present during the incident.
Burned notes were found during house fire
The panel recorded the statements of Justice Verma, his employees, fire officers and police officers, including Delhi Fire Service Head and Registrar of the Delhi High Court, who reached there during the fire.
The evidence collected includes pictures and videos of burnt notes, forensic analysis of evidence collected by the first respondents and visual documents recorded by judges during their visit at their residence.
Sources have indicated that the report is entirely based on fact-and-face investigation, and no conclusion is binding. The final decision regarding future action will be taken by CJI.
In-house investigation started on 22 March
CJI Khanna launched an in-house investigation on 22 March, as well as a three-member committee of Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh High Court Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Karnataka High Court Justice Anu Shivraman formed.
On March 14, a fire broke out at Justice Verma’s residence in Delhi. Firemen who reached the spot allegedly found a lot of burnt cash in a storeroom. Videos of burnt currency were revealed online, which led to allegations of corruption. Amid the dispute, Justice Verma was transferred to the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court also clarified that the transfer was an administrative measure and was different from the in-house investigation.