‘Process of removal should begin’: LS Speaker forms panel to probe Justice Varma cash row; who’s on committee? | India News

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday announced the formation of a three-member committee to investigate allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma in connection with the “cash-at-home” controversy.The panel will include senior advocate PV Acharya of the Karnataka high Court as the jurist member. SC judge Aravind Kumar, Madras HC Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava are the other members of the committee.“The members of the Committee include Justice Arvind Kumar, Supreme Court Judge, Justice Maninder Mohan Srivastava, Chief Justice Madras High Court, and BV Acharya, Senior Advocate, Karnataka High Court. The committee will submit its report as early as possible. The proposal will remain pending till the receipt of the report of the inquiry committee,” Birla said.Birla accepted a motion signed by 146 MPs seeking the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma. “The committee will submit its report as early as possible. The proposal (for removal of Justice Varma) will remain pending till the receipt of the report of the inquiry committee,” Birla said, according to PTI. On August 7, the Supreme Court upheld the legality of the in-house inquiry that recommended Justice Varma’s removal. It also rejected his plea claiming he wasn’t given a fair hearing. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal had represented him.Wads of burnt cash were found following a fire in the storeroom of the judge’s official residence in the capital on March 14.