Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 10: Yashwant Varma has resigned from his post as a judge of the Allahabad High Court, nearly a year after a controversy over alleged unaccounted cash at his official residence sparked a major political and legal storm.

His resignation has been forwarded to the President and comes at a time when impeachment proceedings against him had gained momentum, with over 140 members of the Lok Sabha backing a motion seeking his removal.

The controversy dates back to March last year, when a fire broke out at his official residence in Delhi. During firefighting operations, stacks of cash were reportedly discovered at the site, triggering widespread outrage.

Following the incident, then Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna ordered an in-house inquiry and transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. His judicial duties were withdrawn pending investigation.

Justice Varma has consistently denied the allegations. In his response to a parliamentary panel, he questioned the basis of the impeachment move, stating that he was not present at the residence during the fire and that authorities at the scene were responsible for securing the premises.

In August 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted a three-member inquiry committee under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968 to examine the charges.

The panel includes Aravind Kumar, Maninder Mohan and senior advocate BV Acharya.

Justice Varma challenged the panel before the Supreme Court of India, but his plea was dismissed, allowing the inquiry to proceed.

An earlier in-house probe panel found prima facie evidence suggesting that Justice Varma and his family had control over the room where the cash was allegedly found. The report was subsequently forwarded to the President and the Prime Minister after he declined to resign despite being advised to do so.

With the impeachment process underway — which requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament under constitutional provisions — Justice Varma’s resignation marks a significant development in one of the most high-profile judicial controversies in recent years.