Allahabad High Court (HC) judge, Justice Yashwant Varma has resigned, nearly a year after a controversy over alleged unaccounted cash found at his official residence in March, 2025 in Delhi triggered a political and legal storm. The resignation of Justice Varma has been sent to the President Droupadi Murmu on April 09, 2026 stating, “While I do not propose to burden your august office with the reasons which have constrained me to submit this missive, it is with deep anguish that I hereby tender my resignation from the office of judge of the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, with immediate effect.”
The controversy dates back to March 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence in Delhi. During the rescue operation, stacks of cash, some reportedly over 1.5 feet high, were said to have been found at his residence. Following the incident, the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, ordered an in-house inquiry and transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. Justice Varma, however, has denied allegations, stating that no cash was recovered from his place.
In August 2025, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla constituted a three-member committee to examine the allegations against Justice Varma under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. The three-member committee included Justice Aravind Kumar of the Supreme Court, Justice Maninder Mohan, Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, and senior advocate BV Acharaya. Justice Varma contended that despite impeachment notices being moved in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha on the same day (July 21), LS Speaker Om Birla constituted a committee on his own, without awaiting the Rajya Sabha chairman’s decision or holding the mandatory joint consultation.
The SC then rejected Justice Yashwant Varma’s plea challenging the committee formed by the Speaker of Lok Sabha to inquire into a motion for his removal in connection with the discovery of unaccounted cash at his official residence. It is interesting to note that, no judge has been successfully impeached so far in India to date. Justice Yashwant Varma’s resignation marks a crucial turning point in one of the most high-profile judicial controversies.
