Chief of Delhi Fire Services (DFS), Atul Garg, on Friday refuted media reports attributing to him a statement claiming that no cash was found during firefighting operations at the residence of Delhi High Court judge, Justice Yashwant Varma.

The DFS control room received a call about the fire at Varma’s Lutyens Delhi residence at 11:35 pm on March 14. Two fire tenders were dispatched immediately and reached the location by 11:43 pm, Mr. Garg informed.

Garg’s clarification came in response to reports by some media outlets, including a news agency, quoting him as saying that firefighters had not found any cash while dousing the flames at the judge’s official residence.

Speaking to IANS, Garg categorically denied making any such statement, asserting that he had never informed any media outlet that firefighters had reported no cash at the scene. When asked about his name being linked to such reports, Garg responded, “I don’t know why,” adding that he had already issued a clarification to media organizations carrying the statement.

According to a fire department report accessed by IANS, the fire was contained within a storeroom, affecting domestic and stationery articles. No casualties were reported in the incident.

Earlier, certain media reports had quoted Garg as stating that “firefighters found no cash during their operation to douse the flames at the residence of Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma.”

The firefighting team had informed the police after extinguishing the fire on Thursday night.

This development follows reports that the Supreme Court Collegium has initiated an inquiry into the incident amid allegations of a large sum of cash being discovered at Justice Varma’s residence during the fire incident.

Additionally, the Collegium has reportedly recommended Justice Varma’s transfer to the Allahabad High Court. However, in response to speculation, the Supreme Court issued a clarification stating that Justice Varma’s transfer is unrelated to the alleged discovery of cash at his residence. The court emphasized that the transfer decision was made independently of the ongoing inquiry into the matter.

"There is misinformation and rumours being spread regarding the incident at the residence of Justice Yashwant Varma," the Supreme Court said in a press note, dismissing any connection between the transfer and the alleged cash recovery.