I denounce all these sanyasi stories. They are fake and only defame Netaji. He was never a person who would stay in disguise if he was present in India.

Let us also take into account Sri Shyamlal Jain's deposition before the Khosla Commission that after the plane crash in 1945, he had been given some papers to type by Jawaharlal Nehru. It was a letter from Nehru to Mr C.R Attlee.

The letter stated that he (Nehru) has come to know from a reliable source that Bose has been allowed to enter Russian territory. As Russia has been an ally of Britain-America this should not have been done. The letter ends with "Please take note of it and do what you consider proper and fit".

What does this prove, I question? Does it not prove that Netaji did not die in the air-crash.

In 1975, Gen Mohan Singh, of the INA, met Habibur Rahman in Lahore. Gen. Mohan Singh did not believe that Netaji had died. He mentions the following account in his book, "A Soldier's contribution to Indian Independence." He questioned Habibur Rahman Khan regarding Netaji's death. Habib broke down and said: I am a soldier. I am duty bound to follow orders. Beyond this I do not want to say anything.

I would also like to refer to the documents in the Transfer of Power: On August 23, 1945 Sir F. Mudie(Home member in the Viceroy's Executive Council) in his letter to E. Jenkins(Private Secretary to the Viceroy) gave a detailed proposal on how to deal with Subhas Bose. Where does the quesion of dealing with him arise when he was supposed to be dead?

Also, Dr Purabi Roy, has been in Russia researching files spanning 30 years i.e, 1917-1947. This study has been done after a cultural agreement signed between Asiatic Society, Calcutta and the Institute of Oriental Studies, Academy of Sciences, Moscow in March 1995. She has found material which show Subhas Bose's communication with Russian leaders in 1946.

I believe that the probe by the Mukherjee Commission is going in the right direction. They are, at present, in Britain looking into some 700 files lying with the British Government. There are certain files lying with the Government in India which have not been given to the Commission. I shall appeal to the Home Minister Sh L.K. Advani to look into the matter.

Who utilised the air-crash story? The air crash story and Habibur Rahman's consequent statement was concocted by Subhas Bose and the Japanese to ensure a safe escape for Netaji to Russia.

But the story was used by the government of the day to declare Netaji dead and publicise it and further prevent indepth probes by the commisions set up to probe the Netaji death issue.