Delhi Fire Services (DFS) chief Atul Garg has denied reports that firefighters discovered any cash while extinguishing a fire at the official residence of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma. His statement comes amid speculation regarding a large stash of cash allegedly found at the premises, which has triggered an initial inquiry by the Supreme Court collegium.
Fire Incident at Justice Varma’s Residence
According to Garg, the DFS control room received a call about a blaze at Justice Varma’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi at 11:35 pm on March 14. Two fire tenders were dispatched immediately and reached the location by 11:43 pm.
“The fire was confined to a storeroom containing stationery and domestic articles. It was brought under control within 15 minutes. There were no casualties,” Garg told PTI.
Refuting reports of cash being found during the firefighting operation, Garg added, “Soon after dousing the flames, we informed the police. Our firefighters did not find any cash at the site.”
Supreme Court’s Response to Allegations
The Supreme Court collegium has initiated an in-house inquiry into the incident and has also proposed Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court. However, the top court clarified that the transfer decision is independent of the ongoing inquiry.
The Supreme Court issued a statement condemning the spread of misinformation and rumors regarding the incident. It noted that Delhi High Court Chief Justice had taken steps to collect evidence and information as part of the inquiry process.
Meanwhile, the Allahabad High Court Bar Association has opposed Justice Varma’s transfer, asserting that the court should not be treated as a “trash bin.”
Ongoing Developments
The controversy surrounding Justice Varma’s residence fire continues to unfold, with multiple agencies involved in verifying the facts. The Supreme Court’s inquiry and the DFS chief’s clarification are expected to play a key role in addressing the allegations and speculations.
Sources By Agencies
