Judge Cash Video: Why Call Details & IP Records Could Hold the Key in Justice Yashwant Varma's Case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has initiated an inquiry into allegations involving Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting Judge of the Delhi High Court, following the recovery of cash in a storeroom at his official residence. In a statement released on March 22 after a media furore, the Chief Justice of India requested call detail records (CDR) and Internet Data Protocol Records (IPDR) from Justice Varma's mobile devices for the past six months. Justice Varma has also been directed not to dispose of his mobile phones or delete any data, including messages and call logs, to preserve crucial evidence.

The call records and IP details are expected to be scrutinized over next week, Republic is learning and holds the key to the case. Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association President Anil Tiwari came down heavily on the Supreme Court's decision to just transfer Justice Varma to the Allahabad High Court. "Mere Bachon ka bharosa toot gya hai, tode log talab ko ganda kar rhe hain", Anil Tiwari said.

The Oudh Bar Association wanted a thorough probe into the matter.     

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has constituted a three-member committee to investigate the matter. The inquiry panel comprises Justice Sheel Nagu (Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court), Justice G.S. Sandhawalia (Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court), and Justice Anu Sivaraman (Judge of the Karnataka High Court). Until the investigation is complete, Justice Yashwant Varma has been relieved of judicial duties by the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court.

The controversy emerged after a fire incident on the night of March 14, 2025, at Justice Varma's residence located at 30, Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi. According to a report by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, the fire occurred in a storeroom adjacent to the judge's office. The room, reportedly accessible to household staff and maintenance personnel, contained household items such as furniture and mattresses. The initial fire report mentioned "stationary" being burnt at the store room. The clincher video that has now emerged showed sacks of cash burning as the firefighters are heardv saying, "Mahatma Gandhi Mein Aag Lag Rahi Hai Bhai..."

Watch: Stacks Of Cash Being Burnt At Justice Yashwant Varma's House 

Initial investigations revealed the presence of partially burned currency notes within the affected area. In response to this, the Chief Justice of India directed the Delhi High Court to seek written clarification from Justice Yashwant Varma. He was asked to explain the origin of the cash, how it came to be in the storeroom, and who was responsible for removing burnt currency on the morning of March 15, 2025.

In his written response dated March 22, 2025, Justice Varma denied any knowledge of the cash, asserting that neither he nor his family members had stored money in the storeroom. He described the allegations as "preposterous" and suggested that the incident could be part of a conspiracy to malign his reputation. Justice Varma also stated that the room was commonly used for miscellaneous storage and was freely accessible to staff and other personnel.

What Justice Varma's Call Details Can Establish  

Justice Varma has emphasized that he and his wife were in Bhopal at the time of the incident and returned to New Delhi only on the evening of March 15, 2025. He contended that no cash was present when he personally inspected the site along with his staff and the police. The call details would be crucial to verify his claims.

The call detail records and IPDR are considered crucial in verifying Justice Varma's location, communications, and potential links to any external parties. The internet data protocol record is expected to be shared with the Supreme Court in the coming week.

ALSO READ: Judge Yashwant Varma Cash Video Stuns India

Additionally, details of the security personnel assigned to his residence during this period have been sought to facilitate a comprehensive investigation. The call detail records could potentially clarify the timeline of events, identify individuals who may have accessed the storeroom, and reveal any unusual patterns of communication around the time of the fire.

The Supreme Court has assured a fair and impartial probe while maintaining confidentiality throughout the proceedings. The findings of the three-member inquiry committee are expected to guide further action on this sensitive matter.