HC Deb 07 April 1914 vol 60 cc1783-4
17. Sir WILLIAM BYLES

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a British subject named Roy has been recently charged before Mr. Justice Stephen and a jury at Calcutta with the murder of Inspector Ghose and the culpable homicide of one Ananteli; if so, whether, although he was acquitted, he was kept under arrest and tried a second time on a charge of abetment of murder and was again acquitted by the jury; whether he is still kept in confinement by order of the judge; and, if so, whether he can inform the House how often a British subject in India must be acquitted before he can regain his liberty?

Mr. C. ROBERTS

Roy was definitely acquitted of the murders of Inspector Ghose and Ananta Teli, but he has not been acquitted of the abetment of the inspector's murder or of the culpable homicide of Ananta Teli, On those charges a jury has twice disagreed, and the accused is still in custody under the orders of the High Court.

Sir W. BYLES

Is it the fact, as stated in the "Times," that the judges have ordered a third trial of this young student, and is it the resolve of the India Office to have his blood?

Mr. C. ROBERTS

I have seen the statement in the "Times."

Sir W. BYLES

Twice acquitted already?

Mr. C. ROBERTS

Not twice acquitted. The jury disagreed, but he has not been acquitted.

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