On 14 Sep, 1945, a note from Military Intelligence (extract), L/WS/1/1506: f44, Secret, No. 1005/3/GSI(b), South East Asia Command and India Command Fortnightly Security Intelligence summary No. 3 outlines that "the continued existence of "Netaji" possibly underground would undoubtedly maintain the fervour of many Japanese inspired Indian forces(Jiifs), military and civilian and it concludes "Bose's established death would solve the difficult problem of dealing with him...."

Britain unsure of Subhas' death
20 October, 1945, Documents no. 154. Cabinet India and Burma Commitee Paper I.B (45) 16 India and Burma office, Annexure II to No. 154, B. South -East Asia says: "...the prime problem in the disposal of the Far East collaborators is the action to be taken against Subhas Bose if he were found alive... The investigations went on till1946.

Declassified archival documents of the British Intelligence show that even on Feb 14, 1946, the British doubted the death of Subhas Bose in the air crash.

W. McWright, an officer of the British Intelligence Bureau in India, in a reply to a letter from Major Courtenay Young, Intelligence Division, C.I.C.B, H.Q. SACSEA, Singapore says: "We have at last completed an examination of the information available here relating to the alleged death of Bose and the result is not entirely satisfactory. It reveals many discrepancies which, until clarified, make no definite conclusion on this incident."

In the affidavit submitted by the Forward Bloc before the inquiry commission set up on May 14, 1999 headed by Justice M.K Mukherjee, to investigate into the matter of Subhas Bose's alleged death, a letter of the British Intelligence mentions a secret report which says that Nehru received a letter from Bose saying that he was in Russia and wanted to escape to India.

The information alleges that Gandhiji and Sarat Bose are among those who are aware of this.

In political circles, India's leaders believed that Subhas Bose had escaped to Russia. In a letter to author and journalist Louis Fischer on July 22, 1946, Gandhiji's secretary Khurshed Naoroji, expresses fear about Subhas Bose coming to India with the help of Russia. She says, "...if Bose comes with the help of Russia neither Gandhiji nor the Congress will be able to reason with the country..."

The letter is an indication of the prevailing belief in the political circles then that Subhas Bose was in Russia.

The issue continued to be a matter of debate as late as November , 1946. Raja Yuveraj Dutta Singh, member, central legislative assembly asked: "Is the government in possession of reliable information relating to the whereabouts of Srijut Netaji, about whom conflicting reports are current."

In its reply the Home department said that the government was not in a position to make an authoritative statement on the question.

What happened to Subhas Bose? As the bulk of evidence above reveals, the British Government had nothing to prove that he had died in the air crash.