NETAJI DID’N DIE IN THE AIR CRASH
Justice Mukherjee
Commission of Enquiry Concludes
After a prolonged wait of more than six decades, at last an Inquiry Commission appointed
by the Govt. of India has arrived at the conclusion that no air crash ever took place at
Taihoku, the venue pf alleged plane crash on 18th August,1945;and hence no question of
Netaji's death in the alleged plane crash. This finding is in spite of the fact that the Govts. of
India, the present Govt. as well as it's predecessor, did not provide the requisite cooperation
to the Commission. The Congress led U.P. A. govt. which appeared to be in neck breaking
hurry to reject the report of the C omission, till the last day of the functioning of the
Commission refused to supply to the Commission some vital documents which could have a
decisive bearing on the findings of the Commission. About the present findings of this
Commission we can say that these are under the circumstances. Had the govt. made available
all the documents in it's possession and had the Govt. helped the Commission in procuring
the documents from some countries like Russia, England, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, U.S.A.,
then much more information would have come out and the Commission might have
confirmed more truths.
The Ministry of Home Affairs of India through a notification dated 14.5.19999 appointed a
Commission of Inquiry consisting of Mr. Justice M. K. Mukherjee, a retired judge of the
Supreme Court of India. According to clause 2 of the notification "The Commission shall
inquire into all the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance of Netaji Subhas
Chandra Bose in 1945 and subsequent developments connected therewith including:
a) Whether Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is dead or alive; b) If he is dead, whether he died in
the plane crash, as
alleged;
c) Whether the ashes in the Japanese temple are the ashes of Netaji;
d) Whether he has died in any other manner at any other place and, if so when and how;
e) If he is alive, in respect of his whereabouts."
When one goes through the status reports of the Commission one finds that the Govt. did
not sincerely, honestly and timely co-operated the Commission. Still it is great on the part of
the Commission that in spite of all the hazards it completed it's work and submitted the
report to the Government of India on 8th November, 2005.
THE FRAUD OF GOVERNMENT ABOUT FILES /DOCUMENTS:
On March 23, 2000, the Commission issued orders to produce file no. 12 (226)/56-PM
(investigations into the circumstances leading to the death of Subhas Chandra Bose. The
Director of the Prime Minister Office (PMO) replied vide her letter dated May 2,2000 that
the above file was not available as it had been destroyed.
Through it's letter dated May23, 2000 the Commission asker her (Director) to let the
Commission know:
i) The subject and contents of the file;
ii) The circumstances under which the above said file had been destroyed.
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A. Before reply could come from Director, PMO, the Director ( Internal Security-1) in the
Ministry of Home Affairs Mr.A.K.Paitandy, on June 22, 2000 filed the following affidavit
before the Commission: ".........in view of the fact that some of the
Departments/organizations have informed that they do not have any papers on
Netaji/I.N.A., there seems to be some confusion about filing of affidavits to that effect by
them. In view of this fact and in deference to the directions/orders of the Commission, this
Ministry is filing this affidavit on behalf of the following and I accordingly further affirm and
state that there are reportedly no files/papers concerning Netaji/INA in their (the under
mentioned departments') possession (emphasis supplied) :-
i) Cabinet Secretariat
ii) Intelligence Bureau
iii) Research and Analysis Wing ".
B. Contrary to what Shri Paitandy said, the Director of PMO in her reply dated July, 2004 to
the Commission's letter dated May 23, 2000 stated " file no. 12 (226)/56- PM which
contained agenda paper/ Cabinet decision regarding "Investigations into the circumstances
leading to the death of Sri Chandra Bose" was destroyed in 1972 in course of routine
review/weeding of old records since records of Cabinet proceedings are kept permanently in
Cabinet Secretariat, from where they may be procured."
When the Commission asked the Secretary, PMO and the Secretary MHA to produce copies
of the orders regarding destruction of files/documents concerning Netaji Subhas Chandra
Bose as also the copies of the lists of files/documents destroyed, the Director of PMO
replied vide letter dated September 21,2000 that no order regarding destruction of
files/documents could be located.
The Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat, in a letter dated October 31, 2000
addressed to Shri. A. K. Paitandy of MHA with a copy to the Commission stated that their
organization had no record relating to Netaji because it was formed on September 21, 1968
Here it is important to note that though the PMO is stating that the documents were
destroyed in 1972 on the assumption that these are available with the Cabinet Secretariat yet
the cabinet Secretariat is denying the possession in spite of the fact that it had been
established in 1968.
Another startling fact is that when the said file was destroyed in 1972, the Khosla
Commission was holding the inquiry. Prof. Samar Guha, the then Member of Parliament, in
a letter dated January 3,1974 requested the then Prime Minister of India Smt. Indira Gandhi
and requested her to investigate into the matter and forward the file, if not destroyed. Smt.
Gandhi wrote back to say that the “file contained only copies of certain documents which
are still available in other files” and that is why “the file was destroyed."
All this makes it very clear that though the file was destroyed in 1972 yet the copies of the
documents contained in the files are still there in the Cabinet Secretariat. The government
has played a fraud with the nation by suppressing the evidence related to Netaji’s
disappearance. The Govt. must decalassify the contents of the file and make it public so that
the people can know what is there in the file.
Shri Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister of India, made the following statement on
August 28, 1978 in Parliament:
"There have been two enquiries into the report of the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
in the air crash on 18th August 1945 at Taihoku airfield during his air-journey to Manchuria,
one by a Committee presided over by Maj. General Shah Nawaz Khan and the second by a
one man Committee (sic) of enquiry headed by Shri G.D. Khosla, retired judge of the
Punjab High Court. The majority report of the first Committee and Shri Khosla held the
report of the death as true. Since then, reasonable doubts have been cast on the correctness
of the conclusions reached in the two reports and various important contradictions in the
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testimony of witnesses have been noticed, some further contemporary official documentary
records have also become available. In the light of those doubts and contradictions and
those records, Government find it difficult to accept that the earlier conclusions are
conclusive." The Commission asked the Prime Minister Office (PMO), Ministry of External
Affairs (ME A),
The Cabinet Secretariat (CS) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to ensure the
production of "official documentary records" on the basis of which the Prime Minister had
made the above statement in the Parliament, but unfortunately the PMO vide letter dated
October 29, 2001 conveyed that no such records could be located in their office. Shri Jarnail
Singh, a Joint Secretary in the PMO, through an affidavit dated December 18,2001 conveyed
that 'no such records could be found in this office ' and added that their office was not in a
position to explain or clarify the circumstances under which such a statement was made.
It sounds too jarring and ridiculous to believe that the Prime Minister made a false statement
in Parliament. It is the duty of PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat to make available the
documentary record on the basis of which P. M. had made the statement. The whole episode
reflects that the Govt. has suppressed the documents and evidence which could throw
greater light on the issue and has not placed it before the Inquiry Commission.
The Govt. of India failed to provide the documentary records to the Commission which
were very much required by the Commission for the establishment of the truth.
Commission went to England also to study the relevant records there but unfortunately did
'nt get the positive response. The Commission was not given access to the two files which
were marked "closed". In spite of its best efforts, the Commission could 'nt get the required
information from England, U.S.A. and some other countries.
Unfortunately, since independence the Governments of India have not made any serious
effort to collect the documents, related to Netaji's mystery, from some foreign countries.
Will the U.P.A. govt explain that what efforts have been made by it and it's predecessors at
their own to procure any information about Netaji's disappearance from the Governments
of the countries like England, Japan, Russia, U.S.A., Taiwan, Vietnam and others?
The indifference of the Governments to such a sensitive and historically important matter
shows the malafide intentions of the Govt. in this respect. A fraud has been perpetrated on
the nation and it needs to be exposed.
D.N .A. TESTS OF THE ASHES AT RENKOJI TEMPLE
The Commission visited Renkoji temple in Tokyo where the alleged ashes of Netaji are
being kept in an urn inside a glass chamber. The Chief Priest was asked to open the urn to
ascertain whether there were any bones in the ashes which could be subjected to D.N.A.
test. Since no competent mechanic was available, it could not be opened. The Indian
Ambassador in Japan was requested to depute two senior officers of the Embassy to inspect
the ashes and to report whether there were any bones in the ashes. The two officers went to
the temple on October 24, 2002, opened the casket in the presence of the Chief Priest and
his wife, and examined the contents. They sent a joint report to the Chairman of the
Commission.
The Commission approached Director, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology as also to
the Director, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics at Hyderabad for conducting
DNA tests on the bones found in the ashes. The Director CCMB conveyed to Commission
that the facilities needed for conducting the proposed D.N.A. test was not available in India;
hence it could not be carried out in the country.
On learning that the DNA test was not possible within the country, the Commission
contacted Prof. Dr. Svante Paabo, Director, Department of Genetics, Max Planck Institute
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for Evolutionary Anthropology, Liepzig, Germany but he also expressed his inability to
conduct the required test. On Dr. Paabo's recommendation, the Commission approached
Prof. Sir Alec Jeffreys of the Department of Genetics at the University of Leicester (U.K.).
Prof. Jeffreys also expressed his inability to do the needful. Even the Japanese doctors Prof.
Saitou Naruya and Dr. Yamamoto, a forensic DNA expert of Nagoya University reached the
conclusion that since all the bones and teeth had received high heat, there was almost no
possibility of obtaining DNA from the bone material.
Since the Ancient DNA Facility had become fully functional at CCMB, Hyderabad, the
Commission again approached CCMB for re-examination of the bones and opinion. The
CCMB opined that if the less charred bones were brought to India from Renkoji temple in a
sealed plastic bag at room temperature, then it could be possible to conduct the required
tests. Efforts were made in this direction till the last minute before the submission of report
but the Chief Priest did not respond to the request of permission for the collection of
potentially less charred bone pieces from the casket lying in the Renkoji temple.
In this way the DNA test couldn't be performed on the ashes lying in the Renkoji temple.
EVIDENCE:
During the proceedings of the Commission, a lot of evidence came for consideration. 131
witnesses were examined and 730 files and documents were exhibited. Unfortunately the
Govt. of India did not produce even a single witness at it's own.
The Commission received 105 books-47 in English, one in Russian and 57, including 14
journals in vernacular-from different deponents and sources. Many tape records,
photographs and compact discs were also placed before it.
The Govt. of India claimed privilege under sections 123 &124 of the Evidence Act and
Article 74 (2) of the Constitution of India in the case of three files.
WHETHER NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE IS DEAD OR ALIVE?
The following five versions relating to Netaji’s death were placed before the
Commission:
i) He was murdered at the Red Fort in New Delhi on August 15, 1945;
ii) He died at Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh (now Uttaranchal) in l977;
iii) He died at Sheopurkalan in the State of Madhya Pradesh on May 21, 1977
iv) He died at Ram Bhawan in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, on September 16,1985;
v) He died in an air crash at Taihoku (now Taipei) in Taiwan (formerly Formosa) on
August 18,1945.
The Commission thoroughly investigated into all the five possibilities. Before pondering
over the various options, the Commission considered the fact that the average life span of
the Indians is 70-75 years, and in exceptional cases about 100 years. There are very rare cases
of people having age beyond 100 years. Considering that Netaji was born on 23rd January,
1897, he was to be 108 years at this point of time. Hence there is no possibility of his being
alive now.
The Commission didn’t arbitrarily reject any version of death. The various versions were
analyzed as follows:
a) Death in the Red Fort : Shri Usha Ranjan Bhattacharjee, a resident of Calcutta
claimed that Netaji was deliberately murdered in the Red Fort on August 15,1945 at zero
hour. Mr. Bhattacharjee couldn't produce any document in support of his contention.
Since this story was given out on assumptions and presumptions, it was rejected
outrightly by the Commission.
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b) Death at Dehradoon: In 1959, a Sadhu known as Sharadanandji set up his Ashram at a
place called Falakata in the district of Cooch Behar which borders Bangladesh, Bhutan
and Nepal. This Ashram was known as 'Shoulmari Ashram'. Initially it was very small
but after sometime when it grew in size and expanded to an area of over 100 acres and its
population grew to around 1500,it gained importance. A rumor spread that the Sadhu was
in fact Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. By 1961 this rumor had spread throughout the
country. Many important personalities started visiting this Ashram and this further
strengthened the rumor. The sadhu stayed here for 6/7 years and thereafter shifted to
Dehradoon in 1973 where he died in 1977.m this context the Commission examined 11
witnesses out of which eight held the view that the Sadhu was none else but Netaji whereas
three disputed the claim. There was no substantial and undisputed evidence to support the
contention that the Sadhu was Netaji. Since the Sadhu was not Netaji, hence there is no
question of Netaji having died at Dehradoon
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DEATH IN THE PLANE CRASH ?
Right from August 23, 1945, when the news of Netaji 's alleged death was broadcasted from
Japan, the people have been kept engaged by the mystery of Netaji's death in the alleged
plane crash at Taihoku air port on 18th August,1945. Initially a number of inquiries were
held at the instance of British, Chinese and Japanese governments. In 1956 a three member
Inquiry Committee was appointed under the Chairmanship of General Shah Nawaz Khan
and in 1970 a one man Inquiry Commission presided by Justice G. D. Khosla was appointed
by the Govt. of India!
BRIEF NARRATION OF THE FACTS OF THE ALLEGED ACCIDENT:
In the afternoon of August 15,1945 while Netaji was in Singapore, the Government of Japan
officially announced the news of surrender of Japan to the Allied Powers. On hearing this
news of surrender by Japan Netaji discussed this matter with his colleagues and Ministers of
the Provisional Government of Free India (headed by Netaji) about the course of action to
be followed under the circumstances. Though Netaji was willing to surrender to the Allied
Powers, yet his colleagues persuaded him to go out of Singapore to some Russian territory,
for they felt that no useful purpose would be served by his surrender and being taken as a
prisoner. After the decision was taken Netaji along with his colleagues including Col.
Habibur Rehman, Col.Pritam Singh and others left for Bangkok on the following day i.e.
August 16,1945. From there, Netaji along with his colleagues and some officers of the
Japanese Army, left for Saigon in the morning of August 17,1945 in two bomber planes. At
Saigon difficulty was experienced in continuing with the two bomber planes in which the
journey to Saigon had been performed as the two bombers had to return. However, Netaji
was told that a bomber plane in which some military personnel were to travel to Manchuria
would leave Saigon in the afternoon. That plane had come from Manila and was fully loaded
with passengers and baggage. Netaji was informed that it would be impossible to
accommodate his entire party and he could at best be provided with one seat in the plane.
Netaji was unwilling to travel without his colleagues and he sent an appeal to Field Marshal
Terauchi, who was in overall Command of military operations in South East Asia, to make
necessary arrangements to accommodate his colleagues. His appeal, however, was turned
down except that a second seat was offered to him. Netaji hurriedly consulted his colleagues
and they prevailed upon his accepting the offer. Left with no alternative, he chose Habibur
Rehman to be his co-passenger. Then the plane carrying Netaji, Habibur Rehman and some
Japanese officers including Gen. Shidei left Saigon for Tokyo via Manchuria at 5 p.m. and
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arrived at Tourane at 7.45 p.m. As it was not considered safe to travel beyond Tourane the
same day, the party spent their night there. The next morning (on August 18) the plane left
Tourane at 7.00 a.m. and flew to Taihoku (in Formosa) and after a brief halt there for
refueling, the plane took off from Taihoku at 2.30 p.m. Immediately thereafter the plane
crashed on the airfield and burst into flames. The Pilot and Gen. Shidei, who were inside the
cock-pit, met with an instantaneous death. The remaining crew and passengers including
Netaji and Habibur Rehman were able to come out of the wreckage alive but several of them
sustained burn injuries. The injured were taken to the Military Hospital a few Kilometers
away where Netaji and Co-Pilot succumbed to their injuries the same night. The injuries of
Habibur Rehman were, however, not serious. Netaji was cremated a day or two later in the
crematorium of Taipei and the ashes were collected. Later on the ashes were sent in a box to
Tokyo and ultimately enshrined in the local Renkoji Temple and the same still remain there.
The story of Netaji's leaving from Singapore on August 15,1945 and reaching Saigon on
Augustl7,1945 via Bangkok has never been challenged before this Commission or earlier
Commissions because of the overwhelming evidence in support thereof. Even the departure
from Saigon on August 17,1945 along with Habibur Rehman and some Japanese officers for
going to Russia via Manchuria has never been a matter of controversy. Now the evidence
regarding the air crash and the subsequent death of Netaji needs to be discussed and
analysed.
The following seven witnesses testified before the Commission:
Shri. Suman Chattopadhyay, the Executive Director of the Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar
Patrika'; Dr. Col.Laxmi Sehgal, ex member of I.N.A. and the Commanding Officer of the
Rani Jhansi Regiment; Capt.Barindra Karmakar,ex member of I.N. A.; Sh.Pranab Mukherjee,
a former Minister of External Affairs and presently the Defence Minister of Govt. of India;
Shri K.Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs; Dr.Tanyoshi Yoshimi, a
former doctor inImmediately thereafter the plane crashed on the airfield and burst into
flames. The Pilot and Gen. Shidei, who were inside the cock-pit, met with an instantaneous
death. The remaining crew and passengers including Netaji and Habibur Rehman were able
to come out of the wreckage alive but several of them sustained burn injuries. The injured
were taken to the Military Hospital a few Kilometers away where Netaji and Co-Pilot
succumbed to their injuries the same night. The injuries of Habibur Rehman were, however,
not serious. Netaji was cremated a day or two later in the crematorium of Taipei and the
ashes were collected. Later on the ashes were sent in a box to Tokyo and ultimately
enshrined in the local Renkoji Temple and the same still remain there.
The story of Netaji's leaving from Singapore on August 15,1945 and reaching Saigon on
Augustl7,1945 via Bangkok has never been challenged before this Commission or earlier
Commissions because of the overwhelming evidence in support thereof. Even the departure
from Saigon on August 17,1945 along with Habibur Rehman and some Japanese officers for
going to Russia via Manchuria has never been a matter of controversy. Now the evidence
regarding the air crash and the subsequent death of Netaji needs to be discussed and
analysed.
The following seven witnesses testified before the Commission:
Shri. Suman Chattopadhyay, the Executive Director of the Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar
Patrika'; Dr. Col.Laxmi Sehgal, ex member of I.N.A. and the Commanding Officer of the
Rani Jhansi Regiment; Capt.Barindra Karmakar,ex member of I.N. A.; Sh.Pranab Mukherjee,
a former Minister of External Affairs and presently the Defence Minister of Govt. of India;
Shri K.Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs; Dr.Tanyoshi Yoshimi, a
former doctor inImmediately thereafter the plane crashed on the airfield and burst into
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flames. The Pilot and Gen. Shidei, who were inside the cock-pit, met with an instantaneous
death. The remaining crew and passengers including Netaji and Habibur Rehman were able
to come out of the wreckage alive but several of them sustained burn injuries. The injured
were taken to the Military Hospital a few Kilometers away where Netaji and Co-Pilot
succumbed to their injuries the same night. The injuries of Habibur Rehman were, however,
not serious. Netaji was cremated a day or two later in the crematorium of Taipei and the
ashes were collected. Later on the ashes were sent in a box to Tokyo and ultimately
enshrined in the local Renkoji Temple and the same still remain there.
The story of Netaji's leaving from Singapore on August 15,1945 and reaching Saigon on
Augustl7,1945 via Bangkok has never been challenged before this Commission or earlier
Commissions because of the overwhelming evidence in support thereof. Even the departure
from Saigon on August 17,1945 along with Habibur Rehman and some Japanese officers for
going to Russia via Manchuria has never been a matter of controversy. Now the evidence
regarding the air crash and the subsequent death of Netaji needs to be discussed and
analysed.
The following seven witnesses testified before the Commission:
Shri. Suman Chattopadhyay, the Executive Director of the Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar
Patrika'; Dr. Col.Laxmi Sehgal, ex member of I.N.A. and the Commanding Officer of the
Rani Jhansi Regiment; Capt.Barindra Karmakar,ex member of I.N. A.; Sh.Pranab Mukherjee,
a former Minister of External Affairs and presently the Defence Minister of Govt. of India;
Shri K.Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs; Dr.Tanyoshi Yoshimi, a
former doctor inImmediately thereafter the plane crashed on the airfield and burst into
flames. The Pilot and Gen. Shidei, who were inside the cock-pit, met with an instantaneous
death. The remaining crew and passengers including Netaji and Habibur Rehman were able
to come out of the wreckage alive but several of them sustained burn injuries. The injured
were taken to the Military Hospital a few Kilometers away where Netaji and Co-Pilot
succumbed to their injuries the same night. The injuries of Habibur Rehman were, however,
not serious. Netaji was cremated a day or two later in the crematorium of Taipei and the
ashes were collected. Later on the ashes were sent in a box to Tokyo and ultimately
enshrined in the local Renkoji Temple and the same still remain there.
The story of Netaji's leaving from Singapore on August 15,1945 and reaching Saigon on
Augustl7,1945 via Bangkok has never been challenged before this Commission or earlier
Commissions because of the overwhelming evidence in support thereof. Even the departure
from Saigon on August 17,1945 along with Habibur Rehman and some Japanese officers for
going to Russia via Manchuria has never been a matter of controversy. Now the evidence
regarding the air crash and the subsequent death of Netaji needs to be discussed and
analysed.
The following seven witnesses testified before the Commission:
Shri. Suman Chattopadhyay, the Executive Director of the Bengali daily 'Ananda Bazar
Patrika'; Dr. Col.Laxmi Sehgal, ex member of I.N.A. and the Commanding Officer of the
Rani Jhansi Regiment; Capt.Barindra Karmakar,ex member of I.N. A.; Sh.Pranab Mukherjee,
a former Minister of External Affairs and presently the Defence Minister of Govt. of India;
Shri K.Natwar Singh, the former Minister of External Affairs; Dr.Tanyoshi Yoshimi, a
former doctor in the army hospital at Taipei; and Sh.Husamuddin B .Kapasi, a resident of
Bangkok, whose father was a Minister in the Interim Cabinet of Netaji.
All these witnesses were examined by the Commission but since none of them had any
personal knowledge about the death of Netaji in the plane crash nor did they produce any
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contemporary document in support thereof; and since their assertions were based on hearsay
or belief or result of inquiries including those of Shah Nawaz Committee and Khosla
Commission, their statements could not be treated as admissible evidence-much less to be
relied upon-to hold that Netaji died in the plane crash. Some of the deponents and their
learned Counsels also persuaded the Commission not to believe the evidence of the above
witnesses on the following grounds:
a) There are serious discrepancies and contradictions in the statements made before this
Commission, and earlier Commission or Inquiry Committee. These discrepancies and
contradictions prove that through their versions they were making out a story which had no
basis at all.
Their evidence relating to plane crash is so improbable that no reasonable person can act
upon the same, far less draw a conclusive inference there from. It was also submitted that
the bomber plane had no seats and for that matter no seat belts and all the passengers had to
squat on the floor. If the plane had nosedived from a "fairly high altitude, possibly over 12-
14,000 feet', all the passengers and luggage inside the plane would be hurled together near
the cockpit and in that event even half of the passengers could not have survived or come
out of the plane either unhurt or with some minor injuries as claimed by them. Similarly the
story given by some of the witnesses that as Netaji was seated adjacent to the petrol tank,
gasoline flashed all over his body resulting in his sustaining third degree burns cannot be
believed for the simple reason that Netaji could not be in his original position on the floor of
the plane following the nosedive.
All these witnesses could not provide even a scrap of paper-not to speak of any
contemporary document ,in support of their versions of the plane crash. There has to be
some official record to prove the fact of crash. The maintenance of the records becomes all
the more important keeping in view the fact that two of the occupants of the plane, who
died in the crash, were Netaji, the Head of the Provisional Govt. of Azad Hind which was
recognized by the Government of Japan and Shiedei, a General of the Japanese army.
The Government of Taiwan and the Taipei City Government admitted before the
Commission that in response to the queries of the journalist of English daily Hindustan
Times, they had replied that they had no proof of the fact that there was any plane accident
on the said date at the said place.
Even Shri Tarakeshwar Pal, the learned Senior Counsel appearing for the Government of
India, fairly submitted that there were glaring discrepancies in the evidence adduced
regarding the accident as also the date and time of death, news of death, death certificate and
cremation of Netaji.
Dr. Yoshimi who was acting as the Chief of the Nanmon Military Hospital, where Netaji and
other injured were brought after the plane crash and treated, was examined by Shah Nawaz
Committee, Khosla Commission and the present Commission also. Dr. Yoshimi was on
duty in the hospital when the news of air crash came. Dr. Yoshimi was told that one of the
injured persons was Chandra Bose (as Netaji was so called by the Japanese). Dr. Yoshimi
examined Chandra Bose and found that he had suffered severe burns-burns of third degreeand
had little chance of survival. As the condition of Chandra Bose was most serious of all,
he was treated first and thereafter the other injured persons were attended. Netaji remained
conscious for 7/8 hours. At 7.00/7.30 p.m. his condition deteriorated and shortly after 8
p.m. he breathed his last. Dr. Yoshimi informed the Headquarters of the Formosan Army of
Netaji's death. The military personnel arrived at the hospital and under the instructions of
the Commander-in-Chief,Dr. Yoshimi injected formalin to prevent decomposition of the
dead body. On the night of Netaji's death Dr. Yoshimi prepared and signed a death
certificate, writing his name in Japanese (Kata Kana) as "Chandra Bose" and giving the cause
of death as " burns of the third degree." The other two doctors Dr. T. Tsuruta and Dr.
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Yoshimi Ishii also stated that in spite of their best efforts and treatment, Netaji died same
night. Besides the above doctors the others who spoke about Netaji's death and treatment
included Col.Habibur Rehman, Capt.K.Arai, TadoSakai, Koji Takamiya, S. Nonogaki, Tara
Kono, Takahashi Ihaho, Shibuya Masanari,Makato Nakamura, Makato Yamamoto, K, Sakai,
Kazuo Mithui, Interpreter Nakamura and S.Nagamoto. Some of them claimed that they have
seen Netaji dying and also being cremated.
CREMATION OF NETAJI'S BODY: -
As regards the cremation of Netaji's body, instead of taking the body to Tokyo, it was
cremated at Taihoku itself .As regards the date of cremation there are glarig contradictions in
the versions of Col.Habibur Rehman. He told Shah Nawaz Committee that Netaji's dead
body was cremated on 20th August and gave a detailed description of the cremation
ceremony. As regards the injuries, treatment in hospital, death and cremation, the following
important contradictions were pointed out by the deponents:
A) No records regarding the nature of injuries sustained by Netaji, the treatment
given to him, his death and other related matters was available. The death certificate which
Dr.Yoshimi claimed to have issued and the copy of the cremation permit was not available.
B) No photograph of Netaji to provide evidence of identification of the dead body was
taken either at the hospital or at the crematorium
C) Though Netaji was the Head of an independent State which was recognized by nine
independent countries including Japan, no military honors befitting the Head of a state
appeared to have been given to the deceased at the time of funeral.
Incidently no corroborative contemporaneous official records relating to death or cremation
of Netaji were available. The witnesses did not take care to search for the relevant records of
Taihoku Airport, the Army Hospital, Taipei Municipal Bureau of Health and Hygiene and
Taipei City Crematorium to test the veracity of their assertions.
Shri Harin Shah, the Editor of "Indian Workers", the official journal of Indian National
Trade Union Congress, towards the end of August, 1946 paid a visit to Taipei and inquired
into the air crash story involving Netaji. He visited the Director of the Bureau at his office
and asked for records with regards to Netaji's death and cremation. The Director deputed
two clerks for the job and they produced the following three documents:
a) the doctor's report on the death of Netaji;
b) the police officer's report; and
c) the certificate issued by the Bureau permitting cremation.
The death certificate was in the name of the person named 'Okara Ichiro '; the reason of
death "by sickness, heart failure;" the time of death "19th August at 4p.m." This certificate
was given as the death certificate of Netaji.
10
From The Army Hospital
To The Bureau of Health and Hygiene
Date of Report: 21st August, 1945
Certificate Of Death:
Name Of the Person: Okara Ichiro (meaning big warehouses
Of food and Ichiro means eldest son )
Sex: Male
Birth: Born in the Meiti 22nd year April 9
Occupation He Was Taiwan Military Government
Army’s obedient officer.
Reason of death: By Sickness
Nature of sickness: Heart-failure
Time of sickness: 17th August, 1945
Time of death: 19th August 4 p.m
Place of death: Army Hospital
The Writer’s Certificate;
Dated: 21st August
The Name of the doctor: Chhuluta Toyoji Chentze
And the seal Siskwan(Japanese University)
The clerks on beuing asked about the false particulars, replied that they were directed by
their senior officers that 'the particulars of the person had to be kept confidence. But even a
cursory glance at the entries in these documents makes it absolutely clear that they could
not-and do not-by any stretch of imagination relate to Netaji.
In 1956 an inquiry was undertaken by the Government of Formosa at the initiative of the
Government of India. Following the appointment of Shah Nawaz Committee on April
5,1956 and it's plan to visit Formosa, the Govt. of India had asked the High Commissioner
for United Kingdom in India whether Her Majesty's Counsel in Tamsui (Formosa) could:
a) get a copy of cremation certificate; and
b) obtain from some or all of those witnesses (detailed by the Govt. of India)
signed statements or persuade them to meet the Committee in Hongkong for
which the Government of India was prepared to pay travel and accommodation
expenses.
After some correspondence, an inquiry was held by the Department of Health of the
Formosan Government and a report was submitted along with a copy of an extract from the
cremation register kept by the Welfare Section of the Taipei Municipal Government. It
appears that a copy of the said report, duly authenticated by Her Majesty's Consul was
handed over to the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India by the High
Commissioner for U .K. in India on August 10,1956. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that
the record of the above inquiry was collected by this Commission from the U.K. National
Archives on it's own initiative and was not received from the Govt. of India. [[The
Government of India has been maintaining a policy of minimum publication of the facts and
documents related to this my stry and maximum suppression of these facts and documents.
11
The Government of India had asked the Govt. of Japan also to obtain and supply the
doctor's report on Netaji's death and cremation permit. Pursuant thereto the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of Japan forwarded a copy of an entry under serial number 2641 of the
cremation register maintained by the Bureau in the name of one Ichiro Okura with a
forwarding letter addressed to the First Secretary, Embassy of India by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan on July 20,1956.
It is pertinent to point out here that a bare perusal of the three documents received from
Shri Harin Shah, the Government of Formosa and the Government of Japan demonstrate
that the particulars furnished therein tally with one another.
Prof. Samar Guha who had all along been disputing the death of Netaji in the plane crash
and had actively participated in the inquiry conducted by Khosla Commission, visited Taipei
and after all his efforts could find and produce the photo-copies of only those two
documents i.e. in the name of Ichiro Okura, which have already been mentioned.
Now since it stands established that the contents of none of those documents i.e. the death
certificate, the permit seeking the cremation of the dead body of the person concerned and
the relevant entry No 2641 in the cremation register relate to Netaji, this Commission had to
search for the documents relating to the death and cremation of Netaji . A mere discovery of
documents relating to one Ichiro Okura does not and cannot have any bearing whatsoever
on Netaji's death or- cremation. Any attempt to base the finding on the oral evidences of the
eye witnesses, is the over simplification of the extremely complex issue and looks like a
superficial approach, as had been done by the Shah Nawaz Inquiry Committee and Khosla
Commission in the past.
Before arriving at any conclusion about the veracity of the said documents it is essential to
ponder over the procedure of issuing cremation permit in Taipei in those days. For the
cremation of a dead body a doctor's report of his death had to be first obtained. Armed
therewith an application in the prescribed form for a permit for cremation was required to
be filled by a family member of the deceased with the Bureau. In that form detailed
particulars regarding the date of birth of the patient, nature of illness causing the death, date
and time of death etc. were required to be furnished to obtain permission to cremate the
dead body. The body was also required to be brought before the Bureau to enable the
authorities there to verify the particulars furnished in the application. After such verification
a permit was issued for cremation of a dead body. With the permit so granted, the body was
to be taken to the crematorium and after cremation an entry was to be made in the
cremation register against be relevant serial number of the permit.
Dr Yoshimi in a statement before the Shah Nawaz Committee stated very categorically
that:
" On 18th August, I had issued a medical certificate of death in respect of the deceased
person writing his name in Japanese (Kata Kana) as 'Chandra Bose' and giving the cause of
death as 'burns of the third degree'." In the cross examination also Dr. Yoshimi confirmed
the above statement.
If we go by the statement of Dr. Yoshimi ,it is confirmed that he issued a death certificate in
the name of 'Chandra Bose' on August 18,1945 and made an application seeking a permit for
his cremation on the same day.
From the evidence of the two doctors and the two employees of the Bureau, the following
inferences follow : If Netaji was to be and in fact cremated, his body would have been taken
to the Bureau and on the basis of the application filed by DR. Yoshimi a permit for his
cremation would have been issued and on his cremation there would have been entries in
the cremation register with a specific serial number allotted and Dr. Yoshimi's name in the
columns prescribed for writing out the name of the applicant seeking permit for cremation
and his rank in the army. Surprisingly, however, in the Inquiry Report submitted by the
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Department of Health of the Formosan Government it has been stated that in the register of
cremation at the Municipal Health Centre there was an entry in the name of Ichiro Okura,
who, as already mentioned, was cremated on August 22,1945.
The absence of death certificate of Netaji filed before the Bureau, the application seeking
permission to cremate his dead body, the permit granted for his cremation and an entry in
the cremation register in proof of the cremation makes the evidence of the witnesses, who
testified to Netaji's death and cremation, vulnerable and raises a strong, reasonable and
bonafide doubt about the story of his death by air crash.
The Chairman of the Commission vide his letter dated February 01,2005 requested the
Government of Taiwan to send to this Commission certain records including all entries in
the cremation register of the old crematorium of Taipei city during the period from August
18 to August 24,1945. In deference to the said request the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of
Taiwan sent copies of some of the documents asked for.
In these documents there is no entry in the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose/'Chandra
Bose', Pilot Takizawa, Co-Pilot Aoyagi and General Shidhei in the documents of cremation
during the period from August 17 to August 27,1945. The above report, so far as it relates to
the entries in the cremation register, clearly discloses that not only there is no entry of
cremation of Netaji but also of his co-passengers who, being Japanese, would have, in all
probability, been cremated had they died on August 18,1945 by August 27,1945. Absence of
any entry relating to their cremation defeats the story of the death of Netaji and some of his
co-passengers in the plane crash.
DR. YOSHIMI DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH:
The absence of any record relating to Netaji's death and cremation, in respect of which Dr.
Yoshimi claimed to have played a pivotal role, clearly demonstrates that he was not telling
the truth. Toshikazu Shimoda of 5-19-6 Inamuragasaki Kamakura-SHI Kanagawa-Ken 248
Japan had addressed a letter to Dr. Purabi Roy on August 26,1996 enclosing therewith a
death certificate of Chandra Bose which he had received from Dr. Yoshimi on August
18,1988. When the attention of Dr.Yoshimi was drawn towards the said certificate, he
admitted that it was the photocopy of the certificate issued by him. When asked under what
circumstances he issued belated copy of the certificate, he could not give a satisfactory reply.
This indicates very clearly that the above said document cannot but be a manufactured one.
The above findings are sufficient to hold that the story of Netaji's death in the plane crash has not at all been
proved and to answer the related questions in the negative.
NETAJI IN RUSSIA ?
Many deponents believed that Russia was the real destination of the flight of Netaji and he
succeeded in reaching Russia. General Isoda, the Head of Hikari Kikan, had a meeting with
Netaji on August 16, 1945 at Bangkok. He confirmed that the destination of Mr. Bose was
to go to Russia via Manchuria and Dairen. On 17th August,1945 he had a discussion with
Netaji about the escape plane which he narrated as follows:
"The purpose of his (Netaji's) flight was to go to the Soviet Union and with the aid of the
Soviet Union he was to continue his independence movement. That was the aim of his
mission. After reaching Dairen, if time allowed he had intended to go to Tokyo to express
his gratitude for the Japanese help and also to collect some supplies from Tokyo. I thought
no such time would be available to him going to Tokyo. The main purpose of Mr.Bose was
to go to the Soviet Union and his desire to go to Tokyo was only secondary."
13
Col. Pritam Singh of I.N.A., Shri E. Bhaskaran, the Confidential Secretary of Netaji and Mr.
Watanabe, his interpreter have also supported this theory of some escape plan to Russia.
Dr. Purabi Roy who had been regularly visiting Russian Federation for research work,
claimed that there are people and evidence to prove that Netaji was in Russia after the
alleged accident. She gave the names of the persons with whom she had interacted and also
gave a list of fifteen archives where documents relating to Netaji could be available.
The Commission visited Russian federation from September 20 to September 30,2005 and
during this period the Commission visited six archives and examined four witnesses.
Nothing concrete came out of this exercise in Russia. Unfortunately the Commission was
not allowed access to some of the more important archives where there was greater
possibility of information related to Netaji.
THE BRITISH APPROACH:
The Commission took note of the references from the Transfer of Power Volume VI. On
23rd August, 1945 Sir F.Mudie wrote (Home Member to the Viceroy's Executive Council) to
Sir E. Jenkins (Private Secretary to the Viceroy) giving alternative proposals for dealing with
Subhas Chandra Bose. If Netaji had died in fact, there was no need to give these proposals.
On October 25,1945 in a meeting of India and Burma Committee of British Cabinet
presided over by Prime Minister Attlee, the minutes included " It was generally agreed that
the only civilian renegade of importance was Subhas Chandra Bose." This also indicates that
till that time even the British Cabinet did not treat Netaji as dead.
COL. HABIBUR REHMAN:
Col. Habibur Rehman, being the only Indian who accompanied Netaji in flight from Dairen,
is the most important evidence and link in the air crash story. There have been
contradictions and discrepancies in his statements, leading to confusion and suspicion about
the story. If it is accepted that the plane had no seats and no seat belts and everybody was
squatting on the floor, then it was inevitable that the moment plane nosedived, everybody in
the plane and the whole luggage will roll down to the cock pit. As already explained, under
such circumstances some people remaining unhurt or not seriously wounded looks absurd.
He also testified that the plane nose-dived from a fairly high altitude "possibly over 12-14000
feet". If this evidence of Col. Habibur Rehman is to be believed then none of the 12/13
passengers could have survived. In this context the explanation sought to be given that as
Netaji was sitting by the side of the Petrol Tank, gasoline flashed all over his body resulting
in his sustaining third degree burns, cannot also be believed, because Netaji could not have
been in his original seat or position, the moment plane nosedived. Habibur Rehman gave the
following version before the Shah Nawaz Committee regarding the injuries sustained by him
in the plane crash:
"As for myself, my both hands were very badly burnt. As I came through the fire, right side of my face was
burnt and I noticed I had received a cut in the forehead which was bleeding and also the right side of my right
knee was also bleeding profusely as it had hit some hard substance. The head cut was caused by hitting the
floor as the plane crashed. My clothes did not catch fire. My hands were burnt very badly in the attempt to
take off Netaji's clothes. Both my hands ,up to the wrist, show marks of deep burning even after a lapse of
more than ten years."
He claimed that he was treated for his injuries at Nanmon Hospital (the army hospital) and
Hokuto Hospital for a number of days. However no documentary evidence was available at
14
either of the places. He gave different versions to different people at different times, raising
suspicion about the truthfulness of his statements. Besides this if he was the real witness of
Netaji' death in the crash, it was expected of him to immediately report about it to his
colleagues in Bangkok, Singapore, Saigon and Tokyo but he opted to maintain suspicious
silence. This conduct shows that he was playing a vital role with the Japanese army
authorities in formulation and execution of Netaji' s escape plan.
From the evidence which appeared before the Commission, the Commission concluded:
a) There is no satisfactory evidence of the plane crash; on the contrary, the story given out
in that respect is rather improbable;
b) In absence of any contemporaneous record in the hospital, the Bureau and/or the
crematorium, the oral account of the witnesses of Netaji's death and cremation cannot be
relied upon to arrive at a definitive finding on the basis thereof; and
c) A secret plan was contrived to ensure Netaji's safe passage to which Japanese military
authority and Habibur Rehman were parties.
From the statements of Col. Habibur Rehman, Dr. Yoshimi, Dr. Tsuruta, Gen. Isoda, the
clerks of Health Bureau and others it is apparently very clear that there was no plane crash or
death or cremation of Netaji; there was an escape plan for Netaji and many facts , statements
and documents were fabricated to support it ; and many procedurel rules were overlooked to
conceal the real identity of Ichiro Okura. If the Japanese authorities wanted to create
documentary evidence to make people in general, and the Allied Powers in particular, believe
that Netaji had died in a plane crash ,the best course open to them would have been, if the
story in respect of the plane crash was true, to avail of the documents relating to the death
and cremation of the few co-passengers of the ill fated plane and to pass off the same as
those of Netaji, to maintain secrecy. In that case, the date of death, the cause of death and
nature of injuries would have been common with those of Netaji, thereby making the story
of his death more probable and acceptable. This tell tale circumstance not only supports the
successful implementation of the escape plan but also negates the story of the air crash
CONCLUSIONS
In view of the evidences, arguments, witnesses placed before the Commission, the
Commission arrived at the following conclusions:
a) Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is dead;
b) He did not die in the plane crash, as alleged;
c) The ashes in the Japanese temple are not of Netaji;
d) In absence of any clinching evidence a positive answer cannot be given; and
e) Answer already given in (a) above
As regards the ancillary query (vide paragraph 3 of the Notification) the Commission is of
the view-consequent upon it's above findings-that in undertaking the scrutiny of publications
touching upon the questions of death or otherwise of Netaji, the Central Government can
proceed on the basis that he is dead but did not die in the plane crash, as alleged."
THE FINDINGS OF THE COMMISSION ARE THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
The Commission, after extensive, intensive and prolonged efforts, arrived at the conclusions
which amounted to not only the rejection of the findings of Shah Nawaz Inquiry Committee
and the Khosla Commission but also acceptance of the views of the various deponents and
the beliefs which the people of the country have been nursing since the day of the
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broadcasting of the news of the air crash involving Netaji. The people across the country
wel-comed the findings of the Commission but the Congress led U.P.A. Govt. shocked the
nation by rejecting the report and that too without giving any reason or explanation for it.
There is no justification in govt. rejecting the report in such an arbitrary and unjust manner.
Hence it is demanded:
a) There should be not only a full day discussion in b o t h the Houses of Parliament but
also a voting on it;
b) Since the Govt. could not properly present it's point of view before the Commission or
it had nothing to present before the Commission to defend or assert it's point of view, it
should accept the findings of the Commission.
Some Questions:
1) Why is the Govt. of India still not declassifying the documents related to Netaji's
mysterious disappearance ?
2) Why did the Govt. not extend the required cooperation to the Commission in the
performance of it's duties?
3) Why the Govt. has a tendency to accept whatever proves that Netaji died in the alleged
air crash, and a tendency to reject whatever proves that Netaji did not die in the alleged
plane crash ?
4) Why the Government has always been pressing the issue of bringing the alleged ashes
of Netaji from Renkoji Temple in Tokyo without confirming it's veracity?
5) What steps have so far been taken by the Congress party, since 1945, to find facts
about the whereabouts of Netaji who had twice been elected its President?
6) Does the U.RA. Government have any documents to support it's decision to reject the
report of the Commission ? If yes, make public those documents ?
7) Will the Government take up the matter of gathering information , related
to Netaji's disappearance under mysterious circumstances, from countries like England,
Russia, Japan, America, Vietnam, Taiwan and others ?
_________ End _________
