"Matter May Be Dismissed, But Please List It," Supreme Court Told Over Plea Against Justice Yashwant Varma

The Supreme Court was urged today to list the review petition filed by Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara in the Justice Yashwant Varma cash row case.

Nedumpara mentioned the plea before a CJI Surya Kant led bench saying, "The matter may be dismissed, but at least it should be listed".

The CJI responded with an "okay" but did not say anything on the listing of the petition.

Earlier this month, Nedumpara had mentioned the petition before the Bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice KV Viswanathan stating that he had filed a review application and requested that it be heard in open court.

Notably, on August 19, three lawyers along with a Chartered Account moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its August 7 judgment dismissing their plea for registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Varma of the Delhi High Court in connection with the recovery of burnt currency notes from his residence.

The review petition, filed under Article 137 of the Constitution, through Advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara contends that the Court committed “errors apparent on the face of record” by dismissing their writ petition on technical grounds without addressing the merits.

According to the petitioners, the accidental fire at Justice Varma’s residence had exposed “grave offences” including money laundering, bribery, and corruption, facts that came to light only when the Delhi Police and the Commissioner of Police inspected the site and reported the matter to the then Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court

In a related development, the Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a plea seeking registration of an FIR and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the alleged discovery of cash at the official residence of judge Justice Yashwant Varma.

Justice Amit Bansal termed the petition filed by advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay a “wild witch hunt” and questioned the petitioner’s locus as well as his decision to approach the High Court directly. The Court pointed out that the petitioner had alternative remedies available, including approaching the Delhi Police and, thereafter, the competent magistrate.

The plea arose from the controversy that began after a fire broke out during the intervening night of March 14-15, 2025, at a storeroom/outhouse at Justice Varma’s official residence at Tughlak Crescent in New Delhi. Partly burnt currency notes were reportedly found at the premises during the firefighting operation. Justice Varma was subsequently transferred to the Allahabad High Court and ceased to discharge judicial functions.

Recently, Supreme Court had also dismissed a plea seeking registration of an FIR and a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against Justice Varma, observing that the petition appeared to be aimed at “cheap publicity.” The Bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe refused to entertain the plea filed by advocate Ghanshyam Upadhayay, who sought criminal action against Varma in connection with the alleged discovery of semi-burnt and unburnt currency notes following a fire at his official residence in Lutyens’ Delhi on March 14, 2025.

Notably, the Inquiry Committee examining allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma has held all three Articles of Charge against him proved, recording that substantial unexplained currency notes were found within his official residential premises, material evidence was not preserved and the Judge’s explanations were evasive and unsatisfactory.

The Committee comprising Supreme Court judge Justice Aravind Kumar, the-then Bombay High Court Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Senior Advocate B.V. Acharya submitted its report after examining the evidence concerning the fire at 30, Tughlaq Crescent, New Delhi, and the subsequent discovery of currency notes in a storeroom there.

The alleged cash discovery dates back to March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma's official residence in New Delhi. Justice Varma was not present at the residence at the time. During the firefighting operation, semi-burnt wads of currency notes were reportedly discovered at the premises. The incident subsequently triggered an inquiry into allegations concerning the presence of cash at the judge's residence.

Justice Varma was thereafter transferred from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court amid the controversy and took oath there on April 5, 2025. He subsequently resigned from judicial office on April 19, 2025.

Mentioning Date: September 23, 2026

Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana