The alleged discovery of a large stash of cash from the official residence of Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma drew sharp reactions from the opposition leaders who demanded a fair probe into the matter while some suggested that he should be impeached.
Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has constituted a three-member panel to probe the discovery of "four to five semi-burnt sacks" of Indian currency notes after the fire incident.
However, Justice Varma has strongly denounced the allegations, saying no cash was ever placed in the storeroom of his residence either by him or any of his family members.
Reacting to the developments in the matter, the AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said, "This is a big issue, people's trust in the judiciary has been damaged."
"This is the first time in the history of India that bundles of currency notes have been discovered from the house of a judge... He should resign and the matter should be investigated. Parliament should also discuss the issue," he said.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Singh said, "They throw opposition leaders in jail even when no money is recovered. (But in this case) crores of rupees have been found and no probe is being conducted." Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said the committee formed by CJI Khanna is a step forward, adding the government should make a statement on the issue in Parliament.
"It is really incumbent upon the Chief Justice of India to bring out the truth of this cash fire episode... I think the Law Minister should make a statement in Parliament as well," he said.
Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee claimed that people's confidence in the judiciary was webbing away.
"An inquiry has commenced. This is a good step taken by the Chief Justice of India. If the CJI wants, he can recommend impeachment. Parliament can also initiate a step for impeachment," the MP from West Bengal's Serampore said.
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The problem in this country is that judges get protection under the Contempt of Courts Act and no one can speak against them." P Sandosh Kumar of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said the judge should be impeached.
Azad Samaj party (ASP) MP Chandra Shekhar demanded that a judicial service commission should be formed.
"There are examinations for appointment to every government post. Then why not for judges? A few families have captured the institution... It is time to finish the collegium system and have an all-India judicial commission," he said.
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