Justice Yashwant Varma Halted CBI Investigation Into Corruption Allegations Against Shibu Soren, Claims Amit Malviya

New Delhi: BJP ’s IT Cell chief Amit Malviya has alleged that Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court, who is under fire after a huge pile of cash was allegedly recovered from his bungalow in Delhi, had previously halted the CBI investigation into corruption allegations against JMM leader Shibu Soren, as directed by the Lokpal. The cash was recovered from Justice Varma’s residence after a fire broke out at his place over the Holi weekend last week.

After the piles of cash were recovered from Justice Varma’s house, the Supreme Court-led collegium transferred him back to the Allahabad High Court, where he had served earlier before being elevated to the Delhi High Court.

However, many observers of this case are dissatisfied with the Supreme Court collegium’s action against the judge, arguing that merely transferring him back to the Allahabad High Court is insufficient.

Demands are being made for stronger actions, such as suspension, sacking, impeachment, or removal from all benches. 

How and when was the cash recovered from Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence?

The incident occurred on March 14, when a massive fire broke out at Justice Yashwant Varma’s residence in Delhi. Reports indicate that the Justice and his wife were not at home, as they were in Bhopal when the blaze erupted. Someone from the house called the fire department. Firefighting officials rushed to the scene and successfully doused the flames. During this process, a large amount of cash was discovered in one of the rooms.

As the matter was highlighted, the Supreme Court collegium transferred Justice Varma back to the Allahabad High Court. However, the Allahabad High Court objected to the collegium’s decision, stating that they were “not a trash bin.”

“Are we a trash bin? We demand impeachment, he has corruption charges against him,” said Vikrant Pandey, Secretary, Bar Association Allahabad HC.

As the chorus for stronger action against the accused judge grew louder, BJP leader Amit Malviya alleged that Justice Yashwant Varma had previously halted a CBI probe into corruption allegations against the then Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and former Chief Minister Shibu Soren in September 2022.

In staying the proceedings, Justice Yashwant Varma noted that Shibu Soren’s objections regarding the maintainability of the proceedings had not been addressed by the anti-corruption authority.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who represented Shibu Soren, argued in the Delhi High Court that the proceedings against his client were flawed and lacked jurisdiction under the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act of 2013.

Justice Yashwant Varma was previously appointed as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court in October 2014 and was elevated to the Delhi High Court in October 2021.

Harish Salve on SC Collegium and Justice Yashwant Varma's case 

Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and King’s Counsel, UK, Harish Salve in an exclusive interview to Republic Media Network’s Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami on India’s biggest judicial corruption scandal, pointed out deep flaws with the judiciary, demanded accountability and called for urgent reforms.

Responding to the initial decision taken by the Supreme Court’s Collegium to transfer Justice Yashwant Varma, Harish Salve said that Collegium's decision is wrong on multiple levels adding Justice Varma should be suspended from all judicial duties and an independent inquiry should be ordered in this case.