'Baroda Enquiry Commission Report, 1874' [‎120v] (245/502)

SCHEDULE No. III.—
Names of Claimants, &c.
Case of Mugonlall Hukumchund, of Ah-
medabad, claims balance still due on
account of j ewels sold in 1871 to His
Highness Mulharrao Gaekwar on the
occasion of his marriage.
Value fixed on the jewels at the time of
sale, for which a receipt was taken
Rs. 11,91,047-15-3
Part paid to the firm of Bhaichund
lis. 6,62,259-4-6.
way that the others did, or to receive back the
ornaments.
Due Rs. 5,28,788-10-9,
The following receipt was obtained by
the Gaekwar Government from Bhai
chund Woradhman on behalf of Mugon-
lal Hukumchund, as preparatory to the
payment of the Rs. 1 1,91,047-15-3
To
S hrimunt S irkar S aheb.
The following is the humble petition of
your obedient servant
IluJainichund, Jeweller of
Ornaments of pearls, &c., were purchased
by the Sirkar from the jewellers for
himself, and for Her Highness the
Ranee Saheb. On this occasion I sold
certain ornaments of pearls, &c., through
Gopalrao Myral by the hand of Jewel
ler Bhaichund Wuradhman. A memo,
shuwing the ornaments so purchased
was made over by the Kamdar of the
Jewellery Department to the Fudna-
vish, in order that chits for their value
might be prepared. Chits were prepared
accordingly, the amount of which I was
to receive from the Parukhs. In the
meantime some difference arose
and consequently the amount of the
said chits was credited in the Govern
ment Bank called Mulhar Ishwur •
hut now the above
settled and the amount
now gives to me through the Govern
ment Bank called Mulhar Ishwar either
in cash or by means of orders on other
iianks is as follows-
It is not the business of the Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. to ask that more than
the real value of articles should be paid ; and, justly speaking
it is not necessary (for the Resident) to interfere in this case!
this is written for your information.
Dated 5th December 1873.
In this case the British firm at Ahmedabad trades at Baroda
through the Baroda firm of Bhaichund Wurdhman, f m
whom a receipt for the full value of the jewels was taken by
the Gaekwar Government; but to whom about 5 lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees and
28,000 rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. were short-paid. A copy of this receipt is
produced, signed on behalf of the British firm.
Statement of Mohunlal Muggunbhai, aged 21, caste Shrawuk
Buneya., residence Ahmedabad, occupation jeweller and
banker, on solem affirmation :~
My father Muggunlal Hukkumchund is the head of the firm of
Oomaidchund Hukkumchund, which is established at Ahme-1
dabad. We trade at Baroda under the name of Mugunlal
Hukkumchund through Bhaichund Wurdhman, also Oomadi-1
chund Hulteesing and Gopalrao Myral.
Shortly before the time of H. H. Mulharrao's marriage, 1871, we ;
received intelligence that a large number of jewels were
required. Shetaram, the Jamdar Kamdar of H. II. the Gaekwar,
applied to Bhaichund to procure some, but as Bhaichund's
house had only recently been released from attachment, he
was not in a position to meet a large order. He therefore
sent word to me and others to supply some.
I came to Baroda with some ornaments—some I procured from
Bombay. I also redeemed Rs. 65,000 worth of jewels, which
my firm had mortgaged to Gopalrao Myral; altogether I
collected about 17 lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. ' worth, of which about 12
lacs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees worth were selected by H. H. Mulharrao himself for pur
chase, and orders were given to the Government Kamdar,
Shetaram, accordingly. The price was fixed by Shetaram
in the presence of several jewellers at Rs. 11,91,047-15-3.
Hurriba and two or tkree other Kamdars were present at the
time. In addition to the above, Rs. 595 worth of bracelets
were kept, on the condition that if reqaired they would be
included and paid for. These ornaments have not been return
ed, and they agree to pay the price but with regard to the
larger amount, I left for Ahmedabad and requested Shetaram
to pay the amount to Gopalrao Myral, through whom we had j
sold the ornaments to the Maharajah, and I also requested that
Bhaichund's receipt might be accepted for the amount on wj
behalf. For this business we contracted a debt with Gopa-
rao Myral of R^. 1,89,834-12-0, and we re quested Gopata 0
Myral to take this amount and pay the balance over to Bhai I
chund Wuradhman on our account. Bhaichund was als ( )1
quested to remit the balance to us at Ahmedabad. The chi s l
were prepared and signed by the Maharajah. They were on
io urteen different banks. Wusuntram Bhow, the new J amedar;
took the chits from the Furnees. He cashed them and ere®"
ed the amount in the new Government Bank at Baroda ca e |
' Mulhar Ishwur." Hearing of this we wrote two or
times to Bhaichund Wuradhman to speak to the Maharajat