Two documents declassified by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) reveal that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru spied on the family of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for two decades.

The document reveals that the snooping was carried out from 1948 to 1968 out of which Nehru was Prime Minister for 16 years (from 1947 to 1964).

Reports suggest, that during this period, apart from reading and copying written correspondence, the agency also kept an eye on their domestic and international travel. IB sleuths also reportedly put surveillance on Bose’s family homes in Kolkata in Woodburn Park and 38/2 Elgin Road and reported back to Nehru.

Intelligence Bureau primarily tracked Bose’s nephew siblings Sisir Kumar Bose and Amiya Nath Bose who were the only family members in close contact with Bose’s wife Emily Schenkl who was in Austria at the time.

The declassified files are now available with the National Archives in New Delhi.

Surveillance is conducted on those who have committed a crime or have terror links. Subhas babu and his family fought for India’s freedom; why should be they placed under surveillance?

– Chandra Kumar Bose, Grand Nephew of Subhash Chandra Bose

Chandra Kumar Bose has also asked for an independent probe into the matter.

Reacting to the reports, BJP leader MJ Akbar said that the Congress government at the time was apprehensive because Bose was a charismatic leader with the ability to mobilise people against the Nehru government.

Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu said that the news was shocking and that it needed to be investigated and confirmed.

An army of Congress leaders also came in defence.

Senior party leader Manish Tewari said, “It is highly irresponsible to blame a person (Nehru) known for his democratic attitude”.

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh said, “BJP and RSS are accusing Nehru because they have always been against the Nehru-Gandhi family”.

More on the declassified documents from The Quint