VIKRANT YADAV

I was the first person to seek the registration of an FIR regarding the crores of rupees that went up in flames at the residence of Justice Verma. Later, I heard from important sources that the money belonged to Justice Chandrachud. Gradually, talk spread among the members of the Bar, and now it has spread like wildfire—at least in Delhi. Everyone is saying that it was Justice Chandrachud’s money, with some claiming it was ₹700 crore. There is another rumor about ₹500 crore or a similar amount recovered from the farmhouse of a female Delhi High Court judge. These are rumors, but there cannot be smoke without fire. That is why I moved the Supreme Court for the fourth time. If Justice Verma is innocent—and many sympathize with him in Delhi, believing that although he may be corrupt, the burned money was not his but Justice Chandrachud’s—these rumors and issues still need to be addressed. When I mentioned the matter, the Chief Justice switched off the audio and video, so no one knew what was said or transacted in court. Judges face great difficulty in such matters. For a Chief Justice, Justice Verma’s case poses a dilemma due to a sense of collegiality—or a trade-union-like mentality among judges. They tend to protect one another. Look at the damage this causes: today, people say the safest place to keep money is a judge’s residence. There are so many allegations against judges today that people consider the political executive less corrupt by comparison. While there are no allegations against the Prime Minister, many allegations persist against the government regarding various industrial groups. Whose failure is this? It is the failure of the press and the failure of the Bar. As the Bar, we have failed to rise to the occasion. The so-called elite and eminent lawyers in the Supreme Court are hypocrites and sycophants—self-serving individuals who care for no one else. Common people must step forward to raise these issues. Lawyers can utilize social media for this purpose. I am not asking anyone to take to the streets—that is dangerous, and lawyers should never do so—but we must address these matters.