Upadhyaya was set to submit the fact-finding report based on an “in-house inquiry procedure” he adopted to the CJI late on Friday, the Supreme Court said in a press statement. The CJI will decide on the next course of action on the matter after examining the report.
The incident came to light after a fire broke out at the residence of justice Verma on the night of March 14. The blaze was reportedly sparked by a short circuit in a room attached to the security guard and the office of the judge. The said room was locked at the time and justice Verma was not present at his residence when the incident took place, people aware of the development told ET.
After breaking open the room, they said, firefighters found a bag containing a large amount of cash, some of which was partially burnt. After dousing the fire, firefighters alerted the Delhi Police who reached the scene and informed the police commissioner, who apprised the chief justice of Delhi High Court about the incident and the latter informed CJI Khanna.
Reliable sources told ET that the cops found the room in question “reorganised” the next morning.
In its press statement on Friday, the Supreme Court clarified that the collegium has only “proposed” to transfer Justice Varma to his parent High Court in Allahabad, refuting media reports that it recommended his transfer.”There is misinformation and rumours being spread with regard to the incident at the residence of justice Yashwant Varma,” the statement read. The Supreme Court also clarified that the “proposal for transfer” of Justice Varma to Allahabad High Court is “independent and separate from the in-house enquiry procedure.” “The proposal was examined by the collegium comprising of the Chief Justice of India and four senior most judges of the Supreme Court on March 20 and thereafter letters were written to the consultee judges of the Supreme Court, the chief justices of the high courts concerned and Justice Yashwant Varma. Responses received will be examined and, thereupon, the collegium will pass a resolution,” it said.
Meanwhile, justice Varma did Not hold court on Friday.
The report prepared by the chief justice of Delhi High Court is likely to contain statements of eyewitnesses, including the fire personnel and Delhi Police officials, who witnessed the incident at Justice Varma’s official residence, people in the know told ET.
