Saturday, March 29, 2025
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has raised serious concerns about the delay in filing an FIR against Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Verma. Speaking at a book launch, he said the public is eagerly waiting for the truth behind the large cash recovery from the judge’s residence.
“It’s been two months, yet no FIR has been filed. Why the delay?” Dhankhar asked. “People want transparency. Why hasn’t the justice system acted swiftly?”
Dhankhar called for a re-examination of the Supreme Court’s Veeraswami vs Union of India judgment from 1991. That ruling mandates prior approval before prosecuting judges of High Courts or the Supreme Court under anti-corruption laws.
The Vice President stressed the importance of judicial accountability. He questioned whether such protections hinder justice and called for fair investigation, supported by science and forensic analysis.
On March 22, after a fire broke out at Justice Verma’s residence, authorities reportedly discovered a significant amount of cash. Then-CJI Sanjiv Khanna appointed a three-judge internal committee to probe the matter.
The panel found the allegations credible and recommended action. Justice Verma was subsequently transferred to Allahabad High Court. He denied all accusations.
Despite these developments, no FIR has been registered.
Dhankhar expressed concern that if such a case remains unresolved, there may be many similar instances hidden from public knowledge.
“We cannot ignore ground realities,” he said. “Rotten cash found in a top judge’s home in Lutyens’ Delhi should not be swept under the rug.”
He added, “We must not do anything that damages the dignity of the judiciary. But the public deserves to know the truth. People trust the system, and that trust must not be broken.”
The Vice President emphasized that justice should not be delayed or obstructed due to bureaucratic or legal technicalities. He urged that future investigations into judicial misconduct must be swift, fair, and transparent.
“If we believe we’re always right and above questioning, that’s arrogance,” Dhankhar warned. “Let the truth come out. Let the system prove its integrity.”
