An inquiry committee has rejected Justice Varma's explanations regarding the cash found at his residence, dismissing claims of planted evidence and arson. The panel's report highlighted Varma's control over the premises and questioned his conduct following the discovery. Evidence and witness statements suggest a breach of public trust, potentially leading to removal proceedings.
The committee, constituted on March 22 by then CJI Sanjiv Khanna, comprised seasoned constitutional court judges - Punjab and Haryana Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Himachal Pradesh CJ G S Sandhawalia and Karnataka HC's Justice Anu Sivaraman. It examined 55 witnesses, including Justice Varma, which were video recorded, to confirm every report of TOI on the sensational controversy. The panel's report also referred to TOI's March 21 story breaking the news.
Rejecting Justice Varma's defence - that "someone could have planted the cash in the storeroom in his absence as it was accessible to everyone" - the panel in its 64-page report said, "The overall control and the permission to have access to the storeroom was undeniably with Justice Varma." This should remove all doubts about the launch of proceedings for removal of the HC judge in the monsoon session of
