‘Wild witch hunt’: Delhi High Court refuses to entertain plea seeking FIR, investigation against former judge Yashwant Varma

Justice Yashwant Varma. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu The Delhi High Court on Monday (September 21, 2026) refused to entertain a plea seeking the registration of a first information report (FIR) and an investigation by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged discovery of a large quantity of cash following a fire at the residence of Yashwant Varma, a former judge of the Delhi High Court.Justice Amit Bansal termed the petition a “wild witch hunt” and said the petitioner, Ghanshyam Upadhyay, a lawyer, had alternative remedies in law.“I’m not entertaining this. This is a wild witch hunt. You have nothing better to do?” the Judge said.During the hearing, the Court questioned the petitioner’s standing to file the plea and asked why he had not approached the trial court with his plea for an FIR.Mr. Upadhyay submitted that the incident was “extraordinary” in nature and that the lower court “can’t do justice to the matter”.“This is regarding justice Yashwant Varma. Criminal law can be set into motion by anyone. There is no embargo,” he said.After the Court indicated that it would dismiss the plea, Mr. Upadhyay withdrew it to consider the remedies available in law. He had earlier approached the Supreme Court with the plea, which was dismissed in August.The alleged discovery of a large quantity of cash followed a fire that broke out at Mr. Varma’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi around 11.35 p.m. on the night of Holi, March 14, 2025, when he was a judge of the Delhi High Court. Firefighters reached the spot and doused the flames.The discovery led to a major controversy, and he was transferred to the Allahabad High Court, his parent High Court.Mr. Varma, who was facing impeachment proceedings, resigned on April 9, 2026, in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu. The rare removal proceedings initiated by the Lok Sabha against him were rendered “infructuous” after his resignation. He was due to retire on January 5, 2031. Published - September 21, 2026 04:07 pm IST