Here are the top headlines of the day.
SC collegium begins process to transfer Delhi HC judge after alleged recovery of cash
Our big story is the controversial transfer of Delhi High court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court after the a large stash of cash was recovered from his official residence in Delhi.
The Supreme Court unanimously agreed to initiate an in-house enquiry into allegations against Justice Varma.
Senior judges of the Supreme Court had met in the morning to discuss the issue. Twelve Benches of the top court did not assemble at the usual court hours.
Media reports say that cash was found by fire tenders when a blaze broke out in the judge’s residence on March 14, during the night of Holi festival. The judge was not present at his house. His family had called emergency services.
The information about the cash was passed on to the police. It travelled through the government echelons and was finally conveyed to the Chief Justice of India.
The Supreme Court Collegium is also in favour of the judge’s transfer out of Delhi back to Allahabad High Court, from where he had been transferred to the national capital in October 2021.
Justice Varma’s proposed transfer can come into effect after the Centre accepts the collegium’s recommendation.
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has opposed the transfer, saying it was not a “trash bin”.
Karnataka BJP MLAs demand judicial probe into honey trap allegations
Members of the BJP, the principal opposition party in Karnataka, staged a protest in the State Legislative Assembly seeking a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the High Court into allegations by Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna that vested interests had honey-trapped 48 persons, including legislators, central leaders, and judges.
Leader of Opposition R. Ashok said since RAJANNA said the government should order a judicial probe by appointing a sitting judge of the High Court, given the seriousness of the allegations. As the House witnessed pandemonium, a couple of members of the BJP even demanded a CBI probe.
CM Siddaramaiah assured that the people indulging in the scam would be punished as per the law and that all Congress, BJP and JD(S) members would be given protection. He said, “A probe would be conducted to nab the culprits behind the honey trap. It’s our responsibility to protect all the citizens of the state.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah replies to discussion in Rajya Sabha
Union Minister Amit Shah hailed PM Narendra Modi for bringing in zero tolerance policy towards terrorism during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha.
He also credited the Modi government for bringing in “a new era” in Kashmir by dismantling Article 370. He noted that there was a massive reduction in deaths due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir under the Modi govt and that incidents of terror fell sharply. He also said that naxalism will be ended in the country by March 21, 2026.
IndusInd Bank orders investigation of accounting discrepancies
IndusInd Bank has appointed a professional firm to investigate the root cause of accounting discrepancies relating to its derivatives portfolio. As per an estimate, the ₹2,100 crore discrepancy in accounting may impact 2.35% of the bank’s net worth.
In a meeting on Thursday, the board of directors decided to appoint an independent professional firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation to identify the root cause of the discrepancies, assess the correctness and impact of the accounting treatment of the derivative contracts with regard to the prevailing accounting standards, the bank said in a regulatory filing. Besides, the firm would identify any lapses and establish accountability with regard to discrepancies in accounting.
London’s Heathrow Airport closed for day after substation fire, disrupting travel
The UK’s Heathrow Airport was closed all day on Friday after a fire at a nearby electrical substation knocked out its power, disrupting flights for hundreds of thousands of passengers at the world’s busiest airports. At least 1,350 flights to and from Heathrow were affected.
Some 120 flights were in the air when the closure was announced, with some turned around and others diverted to nearby airports. As many as 37 flights between India and London could be affected by the closure.
Published – March 21, 2025 10:45 pm IST
