All Parties Back Impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma After Cash Scandal, Says Rijiju

New Delhi, July 18, 2025 — Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju confirmed on Friday that all major political parties, including the Congress, have agreed to support the impeachment motion against Justice Yashwant Varma. The move follows the sensational discovery of half-burnt currency bundles at the judge’s Lutyens’ Delhi residence in March.

In an exclusive video interview with PTI, Rijiju emphasized that the initiative is not government-led but a unified stand taken by Members of Parliament across party lines. “I have spoken to all senior leaders of different political parties. I will also get in touch with some of the single-MP parties because I do not want to leave out any member,” he said. “It becomes a unified stand of the Parliament of India.”

Justice Varma, then serving on the Delhi High Court, was repatriated to the Allahabad High Court with no judicial work assigned to him after a fire at his residence led to the discovery of sacks containing scorched currency notes. An in-house inquiry led by the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjeev Khanna, found Varma and his family had “covert or active control” over the room where the cash was stored.

While Varma has denied any wrongdoing, the report concluded that his actions amounted to serious misconduct, warranting removal under the Judges Inquiry Act.

Rijiju welcomed the Congress party’s support, stating, “I am happy that they understood the things as they should be because no party can be seen to be standing with or protecting a corrupt judge.”

He further clarified the procedure: a motion for removal must be signed by at least 100 MPs in the Lok Sabha or 50 in the Rajya Sabha. The motion will then be submitted to the presiding officer, who will set up an inquiry committee. A report is to be prepared within three months, after which the findings will be presented in Parliament for debate and decision.

“Corruption in the judiciary is a grave matter. It strikes at the very institution from which people seek justice. There cannot be any partisan attitude in such issues,” Rijiju said. “We must speak with one voice.”