- May 19, 2025
‘Why No FIR, Who Are Bigger Sharks’: VP Jagdeep Dhankhar’s Scathing Remarks On Justice Varma Row – News18
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Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar questioned the lack of FIR over the discovery of a large amount of burnt cash at the residence of Justice Yahwant Varma.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and High Court Justice Yashwant Varma. (File)
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday trained his guns on the judiciary over perceived wrongdoings hinted by the ‘cash at judge’s house’ row and batted for greater accountability in democracy and the need for “the truth to come out” with the registration of an FIR in the matter.
While speaking at a book release event in new Delhi today, Dhankhar questioned the lack of FIR over the discovery of a large amount of burnt cash at the residence of then Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma.
“We have the rule of law in our country and the criminal justice system, which requires an FIR. The rule of law is the very foundation of society,” he said.
We’re confronted with a jarring reality. A Judge’s residence in Lutyen’s Delhi had burnt notes and cash. There is no FIR till date.We have in the country rule of law, criminal justice system. There can be no occasion whatsoever to delay even for a moment because that is… pic.twitter.com/jqrWFADrXr
— Vice-President of India (@VPIndia) May 19, 2025
Referring to the matter, he said that he has consciously held the fort on the issue as “every person in the country is waiting… they want nothing but the absolute truth to come out”.
He also questioned the legal standing of the three-judge panel conducting an in-house probe, noting that it was not established under any constitutional provision or law.
He also questioned the committee’s probe saying, “I wonder if the panel collected the electronic evidence from people. Everyone thinks it will be washed off, but who were the bigger sharks? Will it fade with time?”
The Vice President further trained his guns on the judiciary over perceived wrongdoings saying, “For a week, 1.4 billion people of the country had no clue, imagine how many such incidents may have taken place.”
Talking about an individual’s right to innocence till proven guilty, the Vice President said, “I am casting no aspersions, but all I am saying is that when it comes to national interest, we cannot divide in compartments as insiders or outsiders.”
What’s The Row?
Justice Varma had landed in a controversy following allegations of the discovery of cash at his residence in Delhi during an accidental fire on the intervening night of March 14 and 15.
The Supreme Court had ordered an in-house probe into the alleged discovery of half-burnt cash.
Earlier this month, the committee submitted its report to the Chief Justice.
“The three-member Committee consisting of Mr Justice Sheel Nagu, Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, Mr Justice G S Sandhawalia, Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, and Ms Justice Anu Sivaraman, Judge of the High Court of Karnataka, constituted for conducting an inquiry into the allegations against Mr Justice Yashwant Varma, a sitting Judge, has submitted its report dated 03.05.2025 to the Chief Justice of India on 04.05.2025,” said a release issued by the top court.
(With inputs from agencies)
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