Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday raised serious concerns about the lack of an FIR in the ongoing case involving the discovery of large sums of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma. The cash was allegedly found in March, after fire officials were called to the judge’s house during Holi celebrations to address a blaze. Dhankhar criticized the pace of the investigation, highlighting that if the case involved an ordinary citizen, the investigation would have proceeded swiftly.
Dhankhar pointed out that the independence of the judiciary cannot be used as a shield against investigations. He stressed that the judiciary should not be exempt from scrutiny, and failing to investigate such matters could lead to the degeneration of the institution. “If the event had taken place at his (common man’s) house, the speed would have been an electronic rocket. Now it is not even a cattle cart,” Dhankhar said.
The case came to light when fire officials discovered bundles of burnt cash in Varma’s residence during a fire inspection. The Supreme Court had set up a three-member in-house committee to investigate the incident, which also led to Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court. While the move to transfer Varma initially sparked protests from the Allahabad High Court Bar Association, Justice Varma has since taken an oath at the new posting.
Dhankhar also took issue with the in-house committee probe, questioning its legal validity. He emphasized that the committee has no legal authority to take action, and the final decision on a judge’s removal rests with Parliament. “The committee can at most make a recommendation. Recommendation to whom? And for what?” Dhankhar asked, adding that such matters should be within the executive domain and not handled by the judiciary.
Furthermore, Dhankhar pointed out that the absence of an FIR in this case is a significant legal flaw, as every cognizable offence must be reported to the police. “Failure to report a cognizable offence is a crime,” he said, expressing disbelief over the lack of action in a case involving a constitutional functionary.
The case has garnered significant attention, raising questions about accountability and transparency within the judiciary, and the role of law enforcement in addressing allegations against high-ranking officials. The inquiry is expected to continue under the scrutiny of both legal and public authorities.
Sources By Agencies