VP questions delay in judge FIR

New Delhi

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar has expressed serious concern over the lack of an FIR in the case involving Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, after a large amount of cash was allegedly recovered from his official residence. Speaking during an interaction with students and faculty at the National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS) in Kochi on Monday, Dhankhar called the incident a “ghastly crime” and questioned the delay in initiating legal proceedings.

“Is this money tainted? What is its source? How did it reach a judge’s quarters? Who does it really belong to?” he asked, stressing that several legal provisions may have been violated. Dhankhar said the first logical step should have been to treat the matter as a criminal act and file an FIR to initiate a formal investigation. However, he noted that a Supreme Court ruling from the early 1990s prevents the government from filing an FIR against a sitting judge without prior approval from the judiciary. “The central government is handicapped by this legal constraint,” he said.

While reaffirming his support for judicial independence and the protection of judges from frivolous allegations, Dhankhar warned that shielding criminal conduct under the guise of judicial privilege undermines public trust. Referring to the incident as the judiciary’s “Ides of March,” Dhankhar said the events of the night of March 14–15 had shaken public confidence. Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the government would seek a parliamentary resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against Justice Varma in the upcoming monsoon session.