Indira Gandhi Didn’t Order Fresh Probe Into Netaji’s Death: Files

International court did not declare Netaji as a war criminal, as per the new declassified files.

Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. (Photo: YouTube)

The government, on Tuesday, released 50 more declassified files related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. This was posted on web portal www.netajipapers.gov.in by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma.

The new batch of 50 files consists of 10 files from the Prime Minister’s Office, 10 from the home ministry and 30 files from the external affairs ministry, pertaining to the period from 1956 to 2009.

The new files released said that the Indira Gandhi government had refused to set up a fresh inquiry into the mysterious death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose as demanded by a large number of MPs in 1968.  

An unstarred question no. 1408 raised in the Lok Sabha in February 1968 was answered by the then government, saying there was no need for a fresh probe.

The files further said that the 1964 government of India had asked the Indian embassy in Tokyo to find out if Netaji was considered a war criminal. In a written response to the MEA, the embassy said:

We have made inquiries with the Japanese Foreign Offices and academic circles here who have given a tentative confirmation that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was not declared a war criminal. The question does not arise because he was never captured by the allies.

<b> The Indian embassy</b>

Similarly, the permanent mission of India to the UN also said Bose’s name did not appear in the list of people tried for war crimes.