Was Gumnami Baba Netaji in disguise? HC suggests probe

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday directed the UP government to consider appointing a committee to probe identity of Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwanji of Faizabad, who many claim was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The judgement was pronounced by the division bench of justices Devi Prasad Singh and Virendra Kumar Dixit on two separate writ petitions, including one filed by the niece of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Lalita Bose, and two others.

“The state government is directed to consider for appointment of a committee consisting of a team of experts and higher officers, headed by a retired judge of High Court, to hold an enquiry with regard to the identity of late Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwan Ji who resided in Ram Bhawan, Faizabad and cremated on September 18, 1985,” said the bench. “Let a decision be taken expeditiously, say within a period of three months.” Issuing a writ in the nature of mandamus, the bench directed the state government to consider establishment of a museum at Faizabad where the articles of late Gumnami Baba as well as other ancient items may be kept scientifically under the supervision of a qualified curator.

It issued another writ, directing the state government as well as the Centre to repossess all items of Gumnami Baba taken by Mukherjee Commission and submit it to the treasury of Faizabad, which in turn, should transfer the items to the museum established at appropriate place notified by the state.