A three-member inquiry panel of Delhi High Court judges has been constituted to investigate the incident involving Justice Yashwant Varma. The probe comes after a fire broke out in the storeroom of his residence on the night of March 14. The committee includes Justice Sheel Nagu. He is the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court. It also includes Justice GS Sandhawalia. He is the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. Lastly, it includes Justice Anu Sivaraman. She is a Judge of the Karnataka High Court. A video allegedly showing burnt cash at the site emerged. Here’s what the panel is expected to examine in the coming days:
Examination of First Responders and Evidence
The inquiry panel will closely scrutinize the first responders to the fire. They will include fire service officials and security personnel. This is to reconstruct the events of that night. The panel is likely to:
• Verify the authenticity of the video showing burnt cash. Forensic teams might be called in to assist.
• Determine whether the location in the video matches the storeroom at Justice Varma’s residence.
• Question personal and official staff present at the residence to establish the chain of events.
Inquiry Into Contradictory Statements
The panel aims to investigate conflicting claims made by officials regarding the incident:
• It will examine the contradiction in the Delhi Police Commissioner’s statement. The statement claimed the storeroom was mostly locked. Justice Varma asserted it was accessed by staff, gardeners, and PWD personnel.
• The panel will investigate the claim that debris was removed from the storeroom. There is also a claim that half-burnt articles were taken away by the judge’s staff on March 15. Justice Varma has denied this claim.
• It will question the Fire Services Chief over his conflicting statements regarding the alleged recovery of cash.
Analysis of Justice Yashwant Varma’s Call Data Records (CDR)
The panel is likely to analyse Justice Varma’s CDR from the night of March 14. They want to trace the sequence of events. This includes:
• The time he was informed about the fire.
• The calls he made or received during and after the incident.
Key Individuals Likely to Be Questioned
The panel is expected to summon:
• Household staff, official staff, and security personnel. They were present at the judge’s residence around the time of the incident.
• Gardeners and CPWD workers who allegedly had access to the storeroom.
• Fire services officials. The first responders shot the video. Their footage is now a critical piece of evidence.
• The Fire Services Chief, who may be asked to explain his contradictory statements.
The inquiry is expected to focus on establishing the video’s authenticity. It will verify the timeline of events. Additionally, it will clarify the conflicting claims made by officials involved in the case.
