NEW DELHI: The role and conduct of some middle-rung police officers and a few first responders is under the scanner in the fire incident at Justice Yashwant Varma’s official residence, from where piles of burnt currency were recovered, sources said.
On the day the Delhi fire chief appeared before the Supreme Court-constituted panel probing the matter, sources said two officers, along with their junior colleagues who happened to be on the spot at Tughlaq Road on the night of March 14, are likely to be probed on whether they allowed themselves to be sweet-talked by a woman into accessing the storeroom at Justice Varma’s residence where a fire had broken out. TNN
‘Entire cash pile not gutted at judge’s house, only a portion of it was burnt’
The development acquires significance in view of twin questions topmost on many minds, including those of the probe panel and, possibly, SC collegium — what happened to the burnt notes and whether there were other bags which escaped the fire and, if so, what happened to the intact currency.
Police circles believe mobile phones of police personnel who were the first to reach the bungalow might hold vital clues to the case. The police brass have already taken the devices in custody and while going through the contents, will also look at the possible destruction of footage and messages; especially with regard to the mystery woman in a car.
Sources said it is also being probed whether a portion of cash was moved from the judge’s residence on the night of fire. “The entire cash pile was not gutted, only a portion of it was burnt,” said a source.
The developments will be brought to the notice of the three-judge inquiry panel. The panel is learnt to have recorded the statement of Delhi Fire Services director Atul Garg. His statement was recorded at Haryana guesthouse in Chanakyapuri, where the inquiry committee has set up a camp office. Committee members reportedly sought details of the incident and procedures followed by fire department during investigation. Garg is also learnt to have told the committee that he never made a statement in the media that no cash was found during the firefighting operation.
Around 11.15pm on March 14, a fire broke out at the storeroom of the judge’s house. According to the incident report prepared by fire department, cops and firefighters remained there for around two hours, though it was a minor fire.
The judge’s personal assistant had informed police and fire departments about the incident by making a PCR call. On receiving information, five policemen from Tughlaq Road police station inspected the storeroom and made videos on their mobile. A special CP-rank officer asked the first responders to deposit their mobile phones.
On Wednesday, Delhi Police had sealed the storeroom at Justice Varma’s residence and also conducted a videography of the campus, 12 days after a fire broke out there and a cash pile was gutted. Police have also obtained footage from CCTV cameras in the vicinity as part of probe into allegations of foul play levelled by Varma. A separate inquiry is being conducted by police and fire departments to ascertain cause of the blaze.