HC Deb 05 March 1896 vol 38 cc225-6
MR. HERBERT ROBERTS

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for India if he will instruct the Government of India to order a public inquiry into all the circumstances relating to the suicide of the Maharaja and of the Maharani of Patna?

LORD GEORGE HAMILTON

The unfortunate circumstance referred to is one of which I possess no further details than are supplied by the Press, and the answer given in the Viceroy's Council on the 6th of February. Mr. Woodburn then replied that the Government of the Central Provinces had instituted full inquiries, the result of which was to show that the Maharaja shot his wife and himself, being undoubtedly insane at the time. The Government of India did not think any further inquiry necessary, and I have no reason to differ from that view.

DR. CLARK (Caithness)

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the Maharaja, before shooting his wife and committing suicide, wrote stating that he was driven to this course in consequence of the persecution of the Foreign Office?

LORD G. HAMILTON

No, Sir; the immediate cause of the suicide was insanity.