Twist After Twist: Delhi Fire Officer Denies Reports Of “No Cash Was Found”
The controversy surrounding the alleged recovery of cash from the residence of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma has taken another dramatic turn, with Delhi Fire Services (DFS) Chief Atul Garg denying reports that he stated no cash was found during firefighting operations.
Garg refuted claims made by several media outlets, including a news agency, that he had confirmed firefighters did not find any cash while dousing the flames at the judge’s residence. Speaking to IANS, he clarified, “I never told any media outlet that firefighters had reported no cash found at the scene.” When asked why his name was being quoted, he responded, “I don’t know why,” adding that he had already sent clarifications to the media.
The fire broke out at Justice Varma’s Lutyens Delhi residence on 14 March at 11:35 pm. Fire tenders arrived within eight minutes and controlled the blaze within 15 minutes. According to an official report obtained by IANS, the fire was confined to a storeroom containing stationery and domestic items, and no casualties were reported.
Earlier, some media outlets had quoted Garg as saying that firefighters found no cash during their operation and that they had informed the police after extinguishing the fire. However, his latest statement contradicts these reports, adding to the confusion surrounding the incident.
The Supreme Court Collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, has initiated an inquiry into the incident, following allegations that a large sum of cash was discovered at Justice Varma’s residence. The Collegium has also recommended his transfer to the Allahabad High Court.
Amid growing speculation, the Supreme Court issued a statement distancing the transfer decision from the alleged cash recovery. “There is misinformation and rumours being spread regarding the incident at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma,” the court said in a press note, asserting that his transfer was independent of the ongoing inquiry.
The Congress party has strongly reacted to the developments, demanding increased judicial accountability. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh urged the government to take necessary steps to address concerns surrounding the judiciary. Meanwhile, some Collegium members reportedly questioned whether a mere transfer was enough, warning that failure to take stricter action could damage public trust in the judiciary.
Journalist Rohini Singh alleged a cover-up, calling for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe. On social media, she posed five major questions, including whether a senior police officer had shown Justice Varma a video of the alleged cash and whether original recordings had been deleted from firefighters’ phones. She also questioned why a proper seizure memo was not made and whether the role of a media editor’s son, reportedly linked to the incident, had been investigated.
