A Supreme Court commission probing the incident has recorded statements from Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora and several senior officers involved in the investigation.
According to highly placed sources, police evidence includes a detailed recovery memo of cash notes, comprehensive videography capturing every moment—from opening the storeroom to dousing the flames—and inventories featuring room locks and photographs of household staff, including Class 4 officers.
Forensic teams have verified the cash’s authenticity with UV and infrared checks, scrutinizing serial numbers, series, and security features. With evidence in hand, investigators are focusing on whether the blaze was a cover for theft, an act of arson, or an unfortunate accident.
The uneven state of the recovered cash—ranging from unburnt to partially or fully burnt—may indicate tampering or the use of external accelerants. Both fire service and police teams have reviewed surveillance footage and interviewed staff and witnesses to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Given the storeroom’s unusual use by a senior judge, the committee is also examining internal records and security logs to determine who authorized the cash storage and whether proper protocols were followed. The Delhi Fire Services has also submitted a detailed report to the commission, outlining the role of officials in extinguishing the fire and recovering the cash.
Following the controversy, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna constituted a three-member committee comprising Justices Sheel Nagu, G.S. Sandhawalia, and Anu Sivaram to probe the matter. The Delhi High Court Chief Justice, D.K. Upadhyaya, had earlier submitted a preliminary report, which was later made public by the Supreme Court to ensure transparency.
The case came to light on March 14, 2025, when a fire broke out at Justice Varma’s official residence at 30 Tughlak Crescent, New Delhi. While extinguishing the blaze in an outhouse storeroom, firefighters allegedly discovered a significant amount of cash, partially burnt and stashed in jute sacks.
The findings have sparked intense debates on judicial accountability, especially after Justice Varma vehemently denied the allegations, claiming that the fire in an unlocked outhouse was accessible to staff and CPWD personnel—suggesting a conspiracy to malign his reputation.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the Times Now Summit 2025, stated, “A committee has been formed and is investigating the matter. We are providing all documents from the Delhi Police and Fire Department. No FIR can be registered without the CJI’s permission, so we must await the panel’s report.”
In a further development, the government has transferred Justice Varma from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court, following Supreme Court Collegium recommendations.
Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation has been filed at the Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench, seeking to bar his oath administration.
This high-profile investigation, bolstered by meticulous evidence collection and forensic scrutiny, aims to determine whether this unprecedented incident was orchestrated or an unfortunate mishap, with implications that could reshape public trust in the judicial system.
