Priyanka Chaturvedi Calls for Judicial Reforms Amid Justice Varma Cash Controversy

Mumbai, March 23 (NationPress) Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Delhi High Court Judge Justice Yashwant Varma, who is facing scrutiny after burnt currency was reportedly found at his home, Priyanka Chaturvedi, a leader of Shiv Sena-UBT, has advocated for transformative judicial reforms. She criticized the handling of the case and emphasized the necessity for transparency and accountability within the judiciary.

In an exclusive discussion with IANS, Chaturvedi raised alarms about the initial attempts to obscure the case.

"Observe how they tried to silence this entire matter, aiming to conceal it completely. The only reason this issue emerged is due to overwhelming public pressure. After media coverage, the Supreme Court had no choice but to intervene," Chaturvedi stated, stressing that without public outcry, the integrity of the judiciary could have remained unchallenged.

She further highlighted the disturbing ramifications of this incident for the future of judicial independence in India.

"This incident poses significant questions regarding the independence of our judiciary and the integrity of its processes. We have overlooked recent verdicts that have undermined the Constitution, particularly concerning state government formations and contentious judgments. This situation should compel us to pursue immediate judicial reforms," she remarked, referencing the verdicts related to the Shiv Sena split and the establishment of the MahaYuti government.

The Shiv Sena leader passionately argued for the need to hold judges accountable to the highest standards.

"If such a substantial amount of cash were discovered in the residence of an ordinary citizen or a politician, they would be scrutinized by the CBI, ED, and IT departments. However, the approach is markedly different when it concerns judges. With utmost respect for honorable judges, they must recognize their duty to uphold the Constitution and democratic principles when delivering judgments. Their conduct must be beyond reproach," Chaturvedi insisted.

Chaturvedi also addressed the CBI closure report regarding the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The report, submitted five years after Rajput's tragic demise, has been criticized for failing to present new significant findings.

"The closure report comes five years later and doesn't provide any substantial new insights," she commented.

She also pointed out criticisms of the Mumbai Police investigation, suggesting attempts were made to obscure critical details.

"The Mumbai police faced allegations of concealing the truth. When the Bihar Police arrived, they attempted to investigate from a different perspective, and subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate perpetuated rumors for ratings, disseminating falsehoods through television. Media outlets transformed into sensationalist machines, prioritizing drama over factual reporting," she claimed.

Chaturvedi expressed her strong disapproval of the media's role in vilifying Rhea Chakraborty, who was unjustly imprisoned amidst the public uproar surrounding Rajput's death.

"Rhea was denied the chance to mourn her partner's death, yet the media condemned her. The channels that propagated falsehoods and contributed to her career's destruction must be held accountable," Chaturvedi stated.

Chaturvedi urged Chakraborty to take action against these media entities, declaring, "Rather than forgiving them, Rhea should strive to eradicate this toxicity and shut down channels that engage in blackmail and character assassination in the guise of journalism."

She also criticized political parties that exploited the Sushant Singh Rajput case to settle scores and discredit their adversaries, asserting that they too should be held accountable for the ensuing damage.

Despite the protracted investigation, Chaturvedi maintained that the initial work by the Mumbai police was correct and that their efforts had been unfairly scrutinized.