The mystery over the tampering of ‘the treasure’ that was brought to light after Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s purported plane crash at Taiwan has remained unresolved like his ‘death’ with no firm opinion emerging as to what and how much was carried by Netaji during his ‘last flight’ from Bangkok.
According to the documents declassified on Saturday, it was far from clear as to what was collected from the airfield after the crash of Netaji’s plane “whether there has been any subtractions and who took the delivery of the treasure in Tokyo”.
Gold and jewellery and 20,000 yen (Rs265 annas and ten only) were sent to Delhi in November 1952 of which the former was sent to National Museum on December 30, 1953, and the money was transferred to the INA relief fund on December 16, 1954.
Shahnawaz Committee which examined the issue quoted one witnesses (INA member) said that the box presented has been tampered with, was much lighter in weight and less than half-full.
Quoting another witness, the committee said Netaji’s “personal valet” Kundan Singh , the treasure was packed in four steel boxes and he was present in Bangkok when boxes were checked before Netaji’s departure from Bangkok. The jewelry carried was that mostly worn by ladies (which may be contribution by Indian women to INA).
According to another witness examined by the committee Netaji had “withdrawn eight crore yen out of a loan of ten crore yen from the Japanese Government”. He made three months’ pay to all INA members and also contributed to the hospital and university. “A large suitcase containing documents and currency” was also there, he said.
Bose disbursed large amount of money in “final stages and took some valuables and ornaments..”, the documents say quoting a starred lok Sabha question of November 22, 1978.