Demand for FIR in the case of cash found at judge’s house, Supreme Court refuses immediate hearing

The case of cash found at the house of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Verma has now reached the Supreme Court. A petition was filed in the Supreme Court demanding an FIR against the judge in this matter. Now the Supreme Court has refused to hear it immediately.

On the previous day, lawyer Mathews J Nedumpara urged the bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna to list the petition before the bench for immediate hearing as it is related to wider public interest.

‘FIR is needed’

The CJI has stopped the practice of oral mention of cases for immediate listing. The CJI said, ‘This is enough. The petition will be heard accordingly.’ The lawyer said that the top court has done a commendable job, but an FIR is needed.
The CJI said, do not make public statements

In this case, a woman and co-petitioner said that if such a case was against a common citizen, then many investigating agencies like CBI and ED would have gone after that person. On this, the CJI said that the petition will be heard. The lawyer argued that the Supreme Court has done a commendable job, but an FIR is needed. On this, the CJI said – do not make public statements.

Let us tell you that Nedumpara and three others had filed a petition on Sunday demanding a direction to the police to register an FIR in the case.

Challenge to the 1991 decision

The petition also challenges the 1991 decision in the K. Veeraswamy case, in which the apex court had ruled that no criminal proceedings can be initiated against a judge of the High Court or the top court without the prior permission of the Chief Justice of India.

What is the whole matter?

The alleged cash was recovered after a fire broke out at Verma’s Lutyens Delhi residence at around 11.35 pm on March 14, after which fire officials reached the spot. Three members of the Supreme Court-appointed in-house committee visited Justice Verma’s residence to begin an investigation into the allegations.

In the wake of the controversy, the top court collegium recommended sending Justice Verma back to his parent Allahabad High Court, who was removed by the Delhi High Court following the CJI’s direction.