Justice Yashwant Verma Challenges SC Probe and Impeachment Move in Supreme Court

The case involving a large cache of cash allegedly found at the residence of Justice Yashwant Verma has taken a significant legal turn. The Allahabad High Court judge has now challenged the findings of the three-member in-house inquiry committee set up by the Supreme Court, as well as the recommendation by then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjeev Khanna to initiate impeachment proceedings.

In a petition filed in the Supreme Court, Justice Verma has demanded that the inquiry report be declared invalid, alleging that the committee denied him a fair hearing and drew conclusions without giving him adequate opportunity to respond.

The controversy began on the night of March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Verma’s residence. Firefighters

, while extinguishing the blaze, discovered a large quantity of burning currency notes and immediately alerted senior officials. Justice Verma, who was transferred from Delhi High Court to Allahabad High Court shortly after the incident, had claimed that he was the target of a conspiracy.

Subsequently, the matter was escalated to the Chief Justice of Delhi and then to the Chief Justice of India

, leading to the formation of a judicial inquiry panel. The three-judge committee investigated the matter and reportedly confirmed the presence of unaccounted cash, rejecting the explanations provided by Justice Verma.

Although the police did not register a case due to the involvement of a sitting High Court judge, the matter moved forward through judicial and constitutional channels

. The CJI forwarded the report to the Prime Minister and the President, recommending the initiation of the impeachment process under Article 124(4) of the Constitution.

Justice Verma’s legal challenge comes just ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, where the government is preparing to bring the impeachment motion. Efforts are reportedly underway to build political consensus across parties

to support the motion.

As the matter now lies before the Supreme Court, its outcome could have significant constitutional implications—not just for judicial accountability, but also for the process of impeachment of judges in India.