Burnt Cash Row: Centre mulls impeachment of Justice Varma
New Delhi: The Union government is considering initiating impeachment proceedings against Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma, who has been accused in connection with a high-profile cash scandal.
The action follows a Supreme Court-appointed panel's indictment, which came after bundles of burnt currency notes were recovered from his official residence in Delhi.
Justice Verma was transferred back to the Allahabad High Court from the Delhi High Court soon after the incident came to light. Despite being urged to step down by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna, Verma reportedly refused to resign. Consequently, CJI Khanna wrote to both the President and Prime Minister, recommending an impeachment motion—a move that has gained traction within government circles.
Sources within the government have confirmed that while the formal process has not yet begun, the option of tabling an impeachment motion during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament is under active consideration.
For the impeachment to move forward, at least 50 Rajya Sabha members or 100 Lok Sabha members must support the motion. Upon approval by a two-thirds majority, the Speaker or Rajya Sabha Chairman would request the Chief Justice of India to form a three-member investigation committee, including a sitting Supreme Court judge, a High Court Chief Justice, and an eminent jurist nominated by the government.
The judge in question has denied any links to the cash, which was discovered after a fire broke out at his outhouse. Despite his denial, the incident has drawn criticism across the political spectrum.
The findings of the Supreme Court in-house panel—though not publicly released—form the basis of the impeachment proposal. The draft motion is expected to include details of these findings, subject to further discussions and cross-party consultations.
BJP, Cong back govt move
Meanwhile, in a show of unity, both the BJP and the Congress have extended their support to the Central government which is exploring options to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma.
Commenting on the development, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said, 'If the person who is supposed to deliver justice is himself involved in a major act of corruption while sitting on the Bench, then the government and Parliament must ensure justice for all. The judge must answer where such large sums of money came from. Appropriate action should be taken.'
Congress MP Sukhdev Bhagat also extended his party's support to the move. 'Although these proceedings are at an early stage, if the government decides to go ahead with the impeachment motion, the Congress will support it. We have always stood against corruption. While the judiciary holds a neutral and sacred status, allegations of corruption are grave. We believe he should resign voluntarily. But I must ask the BJP — why is there such a delay? Where are their constitutional institutions today? The Congress will stand with the government on this issue, though it is premature to comment on all uncertainties.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Voters ‘board'? Mind games on: Character takes centre stage in Ludhiana West race
Ludhiana: Can an election be so devoid of politico-economic issues that a candidate's demeanor and public conduct become the dominant electoral issue? That's the striking message emerging from Ludhiana (West), an assembly constituency braced for a fierce contest on June 19. If the large-sized posters dotting every major roundabout and road and handouts reaching voters' doorsteps are to be believed, then apart from the routine promises of speedy delivery of development and official works, other major campaign themes are "arrogance", "respect" and "quarrelsome" nature of a candidate, who, if elected, "would keep fighting with the govt." AAP slogans target Ashu's demeanor The apparent target of this campaign is Congress nominee Bharat Bhushan Ashu and propaganda tools that are carrying this message hammer and tongs belong to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, who, with numerous such billboards, has successfully dominated the propaganda landscape of the segment. "Na gussa na hankaar, kam hon ge lagataar (There will no anger and arrogance. There will continuous focus on works)" is one of the most visible slogans crafted by AAP to target Ashu and printed on almost every alternative billboard erected by AAP alongside major roads, completing its rhyme with "Aap da MLA, Aap Di sarkar (It will be AAP's MLA in AAP's government.) As if "respect" is an election issue for voters, another slogan having reference to it as "Hon ge kamm, milega satikaar, AAP da MLA AAP di sarkar (Work will be done, respect will be bestowed; it will be AAP's MLA in AAP's government)" AAP's attack on "arrogance" has attained another level in a handout circulated in some pockets of the constituency while pointing out three reasons to vote for Arora. Apart from his "affable personality" and "his ability to get work done from his own govt if he becomes MLA", the third reason was "arrogance and insulting behavior of an opponent." "Everyone knows how arrogant he was. He is folding hands because elections are around the corner. Once he wins, he will not even recognise you. Like what he did in past, he would insult others, he would pick quarrels…would irk masses and most importantly, he would keep quarreling with government for next two years. No cleanliness, drains blocked, garbage everywhere…there will be no development", reads a portion of a handout published in Punjabi and distributed on Thursday morning. On the other hand, in a press conference he addressed on Thursday along with senior Congress leader Pawan Khera, Ashu acknowledged he was being personally targeted through hoardings. When asked about allegations against AAP candidate, he responded, "I would not resort to such practices. That's not the kind of politics I do." Subtle replies on Cong billboards It's not that only Arora's hoardings are carrying such slogans. Slogans on Ashu's hoarding also suggest that they are written with tongue-in-cheek. The most prominent of them is "Na jhooth na laare, kam karda bahut saare (Neither lies nor false promises. He is the one who get lot of works done)." Although slogan is targeting Ashu's opponents, it still leaves the onlookers guessing as to whom Ashu is targeting with these words. Boxes Cong's Punjabi versus 'outsider' As Congress is pulling all stops to turn this elections into Punjabis versus Arvind Kejriwal contest, a very large sized hoarding installed at the main election office of Bharat Bhushan Ashu aptly delivers this message with the slogan, "Punjab de faisle, Punjabi lain ge ( Punjabis will take decisions about Punjab)." SAD's 'tuhada apna' Contrast to its traditional of contesting election on the religious-political-development plank, Shiromani Akali Dal's posters appearing somber and this time. Posters of advocate Parupkaar Singh Ghuman carry just one message: Tuhade vichon, tuhada apna (The one from amongst you, The one who is yours)" BJP's reserved approach Campaign posters and hoardings put up by BJP are also somber and avoid any negative sloganeering. Apart from routine promises of development and efficient work delivery, the posters also carry pictures of several national and state BJP leaders apart from the candidate Jiwan Gupta. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Liquor scam: ED attaches Congress office in Chhattisgarh, assets of ex-minister
A Congress office in Chhattisgarh apart from assets of its former minister Kawasi Lakhma and his son have been attached as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged Rs 2,100 crore worth liquor scam that took place in the state during the previous government, the ED said Friday. A provisional order for attaching these properties has been issued under the PMLA. The ED said in a statement that the attached assets include Congress Bhawan at Sukma district headquarters, which is in the name of Chhattisgarh PCC, a residential house at Raipur in the name of Kawasi Lakhma and a house at Sukma in the name of his son Harish Kawasi. The value of these three assets is `6.15 crore, it said. This is the first time that the federal probe agency has attached assets of a political party under the anti-money laundering law. A Congress spokesperson said in Raipur that the ED action was 'part of BJP's political conspiracy' and added that the party will furnish records of 'each and every' penny used for the construction of the office at Sukma.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
ED attaches assets of former Rajasthan minister in JJM case
Assets worth over Rs 47 crore of various persons, including Congress leader and former Rajasthan minister Mahesh Joshi, have been attached in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Jal Jeevan Mission in Rajasthan, the ED said on Friday. A provisional order was issued on Wednesday (June 11) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to attach the properties belonging to Padamchand Jain, Mahesh Mittal, Sanjay Badaya, Mahesh Joshi, Vishal Saxena and their family members/associate firms, the probe agency said in a statement. The agency did not specify the value of attachment for these persons separately. It said that the attached assets include agricultural lands, residential flats and houses. Joshi, 70, was arrested by the ED in this case in April. Sanjay Badaya, an alleged middleman, Mahesh Mittal, proprietor of Shree Ganpati Tubewell Company and Padamchand Jain, proprietor of Shree Shyam Tubewell Company, were arrested earlier in this case, along with one person named Piyush Jain. The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) wherein it was alleged that Jain, Mittal and others were allegedly involved in giving 'bribes' to public servants to obtain illegal protection, get tenders and bills sanctioned and for covering up irregularities in respect of work executed by them in various tenders received by them from the PHE department. Joshi was a minister of the Public Health and Engineering Department in the previous Ashok Gehlot-led government. The JJM scheme was being implemented by this department.
