New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition seeking registration of an FIR and an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the CBI into the alleged discovery of a large amount of cash following a fire at the residence of former Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma.

Justice Amit Bansal described the petition as a “wild witch hunt” and said the petitioner, advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay, had alternative legal remedies available.

Also Read

placeholder

Cash row: Parliament-appointed panel finds all three charges against Justice Yashwant Varma proved

placeholder

Cash recovery row: Report on Justice Yashwant Varma submitted to LS speaker by inquiry committee

placeholder

Justice Yashwant Varma steps down as Allahabad High Court judge amid unaccounted cash probe

“I’m not entertaining this. This is a wild witch hunt. You have nothing better to do?” the judge remarked during the hearing.

The court also questioned the petitioner’s locus and asked why he had not approached the trial court seeking registration of an FIR.

Upadhyay argued that the incident was “extraordinary” and claimed that the lower court would not be able to do justice to the matter.

“This is regarding Justice Yashwant Varma. Criminal law can be set into motion by anyone. There is no embargo,” he submitted.

After the court indicated that it would dismiss the petition, the petitioner withdrew it, saying he would pursue the remedies available under law.

Upadhyay had previously approached the Supreme Court with a similar plea. The apex court dismissed the petition in August.

Cash discovery triggered controversy

The controversy dates back to March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Varma’s official residence in Lutyens’ Delhi at around 11.35pm on Holi night.

Fire department personnel reached the residence and brought the blaze under control. Following the incident, a purported stash of cash was discovered, triggering a major controversy.

Varma was subsequently transferred to the Allahabad High Court, his parent high court.

He later faced impeachment proceedings and resigned from office on April 9 this year. Varma submitted his resignation to President Droupadi Murmu.

The removal proceedings initiated by the Lok Sabha were subsequently rendered “infructuous” following his resignation.

Varma was due to retire on January 5, 2031.

(PTI)