Option to resign
A source told the bar and bench, “The report has found him guilty. According to the rule, CJI has called him. He has been given the first option to resign. If they resign, it’s okay. If they do not give, the report will be sent to the President for their dismissal.”
It is also learned that Justice Verma has been given time till Friday, May 9 to respond to CJI. The committee formed by CJI Sanjeev Khanna in Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal High Court Chief Justice GS. Sandhavalia and Justice Anu Shivraman of the Karnataka High Court were included.
Will have to answer by 9 May
The panel started an investigation on 25 March and submitted its report to CJI Khanna on 4 May. On the evening of 14 March, a fire broke out in Justice Verma’s house. It is being said that the employees who extinguished the fire had received cash without account. Justice Verma and his wife were not in Delhi at that time. He was traveling in Madhya Pradesh. There were only her daughter and elderly mother at home when the fire broke out. Later, a video surfaced in which burning cash bundles were visible.
Justice Verma accused of corruption
After this incident, Justice Verma was accused of corruption. He called these allegations wrong and said that it seems to be a conspiracy to trap him. CJI formed a committee to investigate the allegations. This committee was formed on 22 March. The video of the burnt cash was sent by the Delhi Police Commissioner to the Chief Justice of the High Court. Then it was made public by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also published the preliminary report of the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and the reply of Justice Verma, which had never happened before.
Following the allegations, Justice Verma was sent back to his original High Court, Allahabad High Court. There he recently took oath of office. However, the judicial work of the judge has been temporarily withdrawn on the orders of CJI. The Allahabad High Court Bar Association had earlier went on strike against the return of Justice Verma. In view of the investigation, the Supreme Court refused to hear a petition seeking to file an FIR (first information report) against Justice Verma.
Soon after the investigation began, Justice Verma took legal advice from a team of senior lawyers. Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal and Arundhati Katju and Advocate Tara Narula, Stuti Gujral and another lawyer visited their home. Now it will be interesting to see what will happen next.