'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎96v] (197/502)

20
SCHEDULE No. 11.—continued.
No.
Complaints of Baroda Subjects.
R emarks.
88
Case of the late Minister Bhow Scindia
and of the favorite followers of H. H. the
late Maharajah Khanderow Gaekwar.
E. 0. 1. The evidence taken in the
Amba, Tanee case, No. 38
2. The evidence and action taken
in Anandrow Sakooray's
case.
8. Syud Saduk Ali's case, No. 4.
4. Case of Chimnia Wagh, case.
No. 46.
5. Important discrepancy of evi
dence in the case of Bajeerow
Bapoo, a British subject, con
victed of murder by the
Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). .
6. Yads No. 3678 and No. 4809,
dated Oct. 80th and Nov. 21st,
from Captain Reeves_, Political
Agent^ Rewa Kanta, relative to
certain depositions in revenue
cases.
7. Denial by Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). of all know
ledge of the two Junaghur
girls. Vide YadNo. 28 of Jan.
5th, 1878, and correspondence
The two Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). men, Tatia
Poonekur and Bunderow, who
brought the girls from Poona to
Baroda, utterly denied that they
were here, though the Resi
dent a day or two after
recovered both of them from
H. H. the Gaekwar's o^
residence.
N ote .—The following evidence to show that Bhow
Scindia died a natural death was
brought by the Fouzdar to Colonel
Shortton the 7th May 1872.
1. A letter from the Jailor to the
Fouzdar^ dated30th April 1872.
2. Report from the same to the same
reporting death of Bhow
Scindia^ with details.
3. Report of inquest by Gunesh
Pandoorung Shastree and
Doctors Aderjee Jamsetjee and
Narraynrow Venayek.
In June last year the Bombay Government in their Resolution
No. 8940, after commenting upon the circumstances attending
the death of Bhow Scindia in prison, so far as they were
revealed by the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , concluded with the following instruc
tions " His Excellency the Governor in Council is of
opinion that in the present state of affairs at Baroda the
Resident should not content himself with accepting all the
official statements put forward by the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). , but should
adopt independent means of ascertaining the true state of
facts. Besides Bhow Scindia there have. His Excellency in
Council believes, been other persons who were in favour with
the late Gaekwar, who have been imprisoned by his succes
sor and have died in confinement. The Resident should
be directed to ascertain the number of these persons, the
offences of which they were convicted, and the causes to
which their deaths are ascribed." >
The cases quoted in the margin," beside? that under
immediate .consideration, will amply illustrate the
necessity for these instructions of Government. They show
that under the present system of administration no reliance
can as a rule be placed upon Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). official statements in
matters affecting the administration of public justice.
On the death of the late Maharajah Khunderow at Mukkun-
pura on November 28th, 1870, most of the followers and
dependents of the late Maharajah were at once disgraced, and
the most prominent of them thrown into prison. The
following persons soon afterwards perished under circumstances
which led to the popular belief that they had been poisoned:—
1. Bhow Scindia, ex-dewan of H. H. Khunderow.
2. Rowjee Master, a Karkoon employed in the service of
Jamnabaee, Ranee of the late Maharajah Khunderow,
who was apprehended in Bombay on a Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
facie case.
3. Gunnoo Wagh, Khitmatgar and confidential servant in
in H. H.'s household.
4. Mulharba Shilki, Khitmatgar and confidential servant
of H. H. Khunderow.
With regard to the first case, the belief is general in Baroda
and has been so from the hour of Bhow Scindia's death on
the 1st of May 1872, that he was poisoned in prison, and the ;
evidence now placed on record for the first time appears to
establish the fact conclusively. The following persons have j
given evidence of the circumstances which attended the W •
days and death of the ex-Minister, viz. :—
1, Moonshee Hubbeeboolah ; 2, Hurriba Gopalji; 8,Kooshaha|
Govindrow ; 4, Eshwuntrow Succaram ; 5, Chimunrow Lux-
num ; 6, Bulwuntrow Keshuv ; 7, Bulwuntrow SaguikWi
8, Narayenrow ; Ramchunder; 9, Kassinath Gunesh ; 10, Gun-j
putrow Goojur ; 11, Amba.
The widows of the Minister and of the'three other ^v- . .
persons have presented petitions praying that a strict io ( l aU |
should be made, and that the property of their deceasea j
husbands should be recovered for them from the State,
they are, generally speaking, in circumstances of want.