Traffic chaos during the BJP’s demonstration over the women’s reservation bill in Mumbai's Worli area prompted an irate woman to confront Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan, blaming him for the snarls. The incident occurred on Tuesday (April 21
Outgoing Apple, Inc. CEO Tim Cook oversaw a period where the company sank far deeper roots in the Indian market than had been done in the decades prior. Most notably, he presided over the firm’s supply chain expansion, during which it set up iPhone assembly operations in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
West Bengal polls: Polling for the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections will be held in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting of votes on May 4. West Medinipur: Union Home Minister on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister
The Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) is likely to announce the results for the Class 10 (Matric) and Class 12 (Intermediate) board examinations for the 2025–2026 academic session. According to board officials and reports, the JAC Board has completed the process of preparing the Jharkhand 10th
The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice on a public interest litigation challenging the validity of the 2008 National Investigation Agency Act, Live Law reported. The Act set up the National Investigation Agency in 2008 and contains a list of scheduled offences that it has the power to
January 3,1946: INA defendants walk free after trial that gripped India
On January 3,1946, a drama unfolded in the Red Fort in Delhi. It meant freedom for the three men involved and deeply influenced the freedom struggle for hundreds of millions more in British India.
That morning, Major-General Shah Nawaz Khan and Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon and Prem Kumar Sahgal of the Indian National Army were asked to go down to an office in the Red Fort.
They were the defendants in the first INA trial held by the British after World War II ended, accused of waging war against the king.
They had been imprisoned in Salimgarh Fort, which adjoined the Red Fort. They were probably expecting the worst. Instead, they were told that they had been sentenced to life – but that the sentence had been commuted. They were released immediately.
The announcement was so unexpected, there was no one to greet them outside the Red Fort. They made their own way to a friend's home Once they got there, they had to identify themselves to be let in.
When the news made its way to the world, India rejoiced. In newspapers across the country, their release was hailed as a victory for India's freedom movement.
Khan, Dhillon and Sahgal were senior officers of the Indian National Army – a Muslim, Sikh and Hindu.
As World War II raged, the INA had been formed in December 1941by Captain Mohan Singh of the 14 Punjab Regiment, assisted by Japanese intelligence officials. He recruited men, many from the British Indian Army, to fight against Britain to win freedom from the colonisers.
But when Singh realised that the Japanese promises to arm Indian volunteers to attack India to free her of British rule were hollow, he refused to cooperate. He was arrested in December 1942.
It was then that the Japanese asked for former Congress leader Subhas Chandra Bose to be sent to Singapore. Bose was in Berlin, having failed to get the help of German leader Adolf Hitler's help to attack India. He arrived on July 2, 1943, to fulfil his tryst with destiny.
In India, there had been a news blackout on the INA in India. The British did not want the people to know that thousands of Indian soldiers had signed up to fight against them. Even though the INA was small, poorly equipped and little used by the Japanese who were in control, the very fact that it existed was, the British feared, something that would enthuse and unite the people of India.
The INA had been part of the Japanese forces invading India in early 1944 and had been pushed back into Burma. Though the INA lost the battle, it won the war.
Soon after Japan's surrender on August 15, 1945, the commander-in-chief of the Indian Army, General Claude Auchinleck lifted the media blackout on the INA.
Immediately, news of these Indian soldiers willing to fight the mighty British Empire to free India hit the headlines and won the sympathy of the people of India – even of soldiers in the Indian Army.
Though the INA had mainly been kept in the rear by Japan, when they got to fight, they fought bravely. Even if these were minor skirmishes with no strategic impact, their willingness to do so was what mattered.
To add to this, in perhaps one of the biggest political own-goals in history, the Britain decided to court martial some of the Indian soldiers who had joined the INA. Technically, all the 22,000 were guilty of treason, but Auchinleck decided to hold trials for 600, to demonstrate to the Indian Army that loyalty and oaths could not be just thrown aside.
Had this been done out of the public eye. it may have mattered less. But The Auk, as he was known, decided to hold these in Delhi. Not only that, he did so in the historic Red Fort, which held great significance in the minds of Indians as the base of the Mughal Empire and where Bahadur Shah Zafar's trial had been conducted in 1858.
Another bad decision was to choose a Muslim, a Hindu and a Sikh as the accused in the first trial. The charge of treason – waging war against the King – had no sympathy with a people ripe for independence.
The Congress party organised the defence, led by Bhulabhai Desai. The team included legal luminaries such as Jawaharlal Nehru and Asaf Ali.
The newspapers followed the progress of the trial. There were demonstrations against it across India. The families of the accused pleaded with the defendants to apologise and save their lives, but Khan, Dhillon and Sahgal refused.
Letters flew between Viceregal Lodge, the residence of the commander-in-chief, and London. How was the trial verdict to be managed, given the public support for the INA? What would happen if they were sentenced to death or life in prison?
In the end, they were found guilty of treason and sentenced to life in prison, but The Auk decided to commute the sentences.
This meant the verdict stood, but the men were freed.
The British realised that they had lost India, and more importantly the Indian Army, without which they could not hold India. This was the true victory for the INA.
Gautam Hazarika is the author of The Forgotten Indian Prisoners of World War II. He can be contacted at ghazarika70@yahoo.com.sg.
Source: Scroll
Related Posts: Porcupine Meant To Civet Cat Sanchar Saathi mandate meant to protect users from fake devices Records Meant To Be Broken Cement firms were strategically trying to pocket GST benefit meant for consumers It wasn't meant to end like this' - Salah exit tough but inevitable A phase not meant to break you Brazilian baby holds contraceptive coil that was meant to prevent his birth I Meant What I Said In Davos How rescue of US airman in remote part of Iran unfolded From Life Lessons To Personal Anecdotes — Here’s What Unfolded At PM Modi’s Dinner With NDA MPs
Woman gives 5 reasons she’ll never return to a corporate job even with 2x salaryA Dubai-based woman has explained why she will never return to a corporate job, even if her pay were to be doubled. Updated on: Apr 22, 2026 11:45 AM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A Dubai-based woman has
1 days ago
Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel, who effected a stunning stumping of Kolkata Knight Riders batter Cameron Green in the IPL on Sunday (April 19, 2026), said he was grateful to be working with the legendary Sri Lankan gloveman Kumar Sangakkara.Rajasthan Royals wicket-keeper Dhruv Jurel
1 days ago
The Congress said that Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to West Bengal on Thursday to campaign for the Assembly elections had to be cancelled after the administration allegedly denied permission, The Telegraph reported. Gandhi was to address a rally in Kolkata and another in Serampore
1 days ago
Shah Rukh Khan stayed calm amid fan frenzy during visit to Ajmer dargah, reveals bodyguardBodyguard Yusuf Ibrahim revealed that he had accompanied Shah Rukh Khan to the Ajmer dargah on a Friday, but the visit quickly turned chaotic. Apr 22, 2026
1 days ago
Karnataka recently rolled out a draft policy to alter the taxation structure on liquor sold in the state. The policy proposed taxing liquor based on the actual volume of alcohol present in it — or the Alcohol-in-Beverage taxation system, a popular practice in western countries
1 days ago
Inherited peripheral neuropathies (IPN) are cruel genetic diseases that affect around 1 in 2,500 individuals. A person affected by IPN develops high foot arches, curled toes, thin calves, and walks awkwardly or trips. Their fingers may become clawed and, because they lose sensation
1 days ago
Kedarnath Dham portals open today, CM Dhami offers prayersChar Dham Yatra began on April 19, with the opening of the portals of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines in Uttarakhand on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya Published on: Apr 22, 2026 1:33 PM IST By HT Correspondent
1 days ago
No, ICSE Class 10 Result 2026 will not be declared today, April 22, despite the false claim floating on social media platforms. The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) told Times of India (TOI) dismissed the rumour and said that the board has not made any announcement
1 days ago
Kevin Warsh has clashed with Democratic senators during a fiery confirmation hearing to decide whether he should be installed as Federal Reserve chairman. From suggestions that he would be President Donald Trump's "sock puppet" to questions over his links to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Panasonic ACs are trending this summer! Grab top deals with up to 30% discountPanasonic ACs are becoming a top choice this summer. Check out the latest deals, key features
1 days ago
A Mumbai woman has gone viral after angrily confronting Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan over a massive traffic jam allegedly caused by a political rally in Worli, with many on social media calling her the voice of ordinary commuters. The clip, shared by X user Prashant Dhumal
1 days ago
IIT Kharagpur professor invites students to his birthday party, internet enviousAn IIT Kharagpur student left the internet surprised—and a little envious—after sharing a video of a professor’s birthday celebration with his class. Updated on: Apr 22
1 days ago
The Iran war has caused a significant drop in global oil demand, with consumption plummeting due to supply disruptions and record-high fuel prices. While this short-term destruction accelerates the shift to EVs and biofuels, the conflict's longer-term impact may paradoxically boost oil demand
1 days ago
Global oil prices edged lower in Asia on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said he would extend a ceasefire with Iran until peace talks between the two countries have progressed. He added that the US will continue to blockade Iran's ports until Tehran presents a "unified proposal"
1 days ago
Abhishek Sharma smashed an explosive century on Tuesday. He scored an unbeaten 135 runs from 68 balls. This helped Sunrisers Hyderabad defeat Delhi Capitals by 47 runs in the Indian Premier League. Sharma's performance was the fifth-highest individual score in the tournament's history
1 days ago
One year after the terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025, which claimed 26 lives in a targeted assault on civilians, the meadows of Kashmir seem to have begun their slow healing with a return to tourism. Yet for the families left behind, time has not healed in the way society often expects
1 days ago
At least 13 people have been killed in an explosion at a firecracker factory in India's southern state of Kerala, officials say. The incident took place in Thrissur, where around 40 people were believed to be assembling firecrackers in a cluster of sheds for an upcoming festival
1 days ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Stay safe and protected this summer with these SPF-infused skin and hair productsKeep your skin and hair protected with these SPF-infused products. Published on: Apr 22
1 days ago
David Wilcock death rumors: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna sounds the alarm about dead, missing US scientists, ‘Something is up’Rep. Anna Paulina Luna has sounded the alarm about an increasing number of missing and dead scientists amid rumors that David Wilcock has died by suicide. Updated on: Apr 22
1 days ago
The protests by workers across Indian cities through early April are an urgent signal that survival is impossible on wages that hover around the bare legal minimum. Domestic, gig and delivery workers to industrial labourers in the Delhi-National Capital Region protested demanding an increase in
1 days ago
Walk into most classrooms today, and you will find students who can define empathy, write about conflict, and explain decision-making. But ask them to navigate a difficult conversation, respond to peer pressure, or articulate what they feel; the confidence disappears
1 days ago
V. Muthuraja returns to contest Pudukkottai seat for DMK in 2026 Tamil Nadu electionsV. Muthuraja, a key DMK politician from Tamil Nadu, won the Pudukkottai seat in 2021 with 85,802 votes, aims to defend his position in the 2026 elections. Published on: Apr 22
1 days ago
Learn how to search your name in the voter list 2026, verify details in the electoral roll, and download your Voter ID card online via NVSP and ECI portals. Step-by-step guide with direct links and troubleshooting tips. With Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal approaching
1 days ago
Nineteen hundred exhibitors from Italy and around the world. 700 designers, all under the age of 35. Over 169,000 sq.m. of exhibition. The numbers give a sense of the scale of this year’s Salone del Mobile.Milano, the landmark European furniture and interiors design trade fair that attracts a
1 days ago
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a presidential trip to the southern African nation of Eswatini, accusing Beijing of putting pressure on other countries to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories. Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked Lai's overflight permits after
1 days ago
International benchmark Brent crude futures traded at $99.29 per barrel, up 0.82 per cent, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose 1.15 per cent to $90.71. Mumbai: Global crude oil prices edged higher to nearly $100 a barrel on Wednesday as traders and investors analysed the outlook for US-Iran
1 days ago
Diet Coke has become an unexpected casualty of supply chain disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, with several Indian cities witnessing stock-outs of the popular sugar-free beverage due to a severe shortage of aluminium cans. The crunch has also affected other canned drinks
1 days ago
