Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Issues Appointment Order Amid High-Stakes Judicial Investigation
Former Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer Ganapati Bhat, a 1989-batch officer from Uttara Kannada, has been appointed Secretary to the three-member inquiry committee constituted under the Judges (Inquiry) Act to examine serious allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma. The appointment order, issued by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday, represents a significant step in the judicial probe that could culminate in impeachment proceedings.
Bhat’s Distinguished Career in Taxation and Parliamentary Affairs
Ganapati Bhat retired as Principal Chief Commissioner of Income Tax for the Karnataka and Goa region. Over the course of his three-decade career, he held several senior positions, including:
Principal Chief Commissioner (International Taxation), New Delhi
Director General of Income Tax (Investigation) for Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala
Additional Secretary in the Lok Sabha
His extensive expertise in investigative as well as parliamentary functions makes him uniquely positioned to support the inquiry committee in navigating what is expected to be a highly complex and consequential investigation.
The Inquiry Committee and Its Mandate
Announced by Speaker Om Birla last month, the three-member panel comprises:
Justice Aravind Kumar, Supreme Court of India
Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava, Madras High Court
Senior Advocate B. V. Acharya
The committee has been tasked with investigating allegations of corruption against Justice Yashwant Varma, who now faces the prospect of impeachment should the charges be substantiated.
Background: Burnt Currency Discovery at Justice Varma’s Residence
The controversy erupted in March 2025 when burnt currency notes were discovered at the official residence of Justice Varma, then serving as a Delhi High Court judge, following a fire incident. The discovery raised grave suspicions, prompting calls for a formal judicial probe and fueling both political and legal debate.
Following preliminary inquiries, the matter was escalated to a parliamentary judicial committee, empowered under the Judges (Inquiry) Act, to conduct a full investigation.
Next Steps: Awaiting Findings That Could Trigger Impeachment Motion
If the inquiry committee—now assisted by Bhat as Secretary—concludes that there is sufficient merit to the allegations, its findings could lead to the initiation of formal impeachment proceedings in Parliament. Such a move would mark one of the rarest and most serious actions in India’s judicial history, underscoring the gravity of the case.
