§ 28 and 29. Mr. THURTLEasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1) when Mr. Subhas C. Bose was first arrested in respect of the charge for which he is at present under detention;
(2) if he can now say whether or not the Government of India intends to bring Mr. Subhas C. Bose to trial?
§ Mr. BUTLERMr. Bose is detained, as he was in January, 1932, under Regulation III of 1818, a procedure which, as I stated in reply to the hon. Member on 6th April, does not involve trial on a definite charge or the formulation of such a charge.
§ Mr. THURTLEIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that this prolonged detention without trial is quite contrary to British standards of justice, and will he make strong representations to the Government of India to bring it to an end?
§ Mr. BUTLERMr. Bose's activities, connected as they are and were with the Terrorist movement, are reasons which involve special methods such as are prescribed by this special Regulation.
§ Mr. THURTLEDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that if this man has committed a crime, it should be possible to prove it; and why is action not taken to prove the crime?
§ Mr. BUTLERThe reason why this person was originally detained was referred to the scrutiny of two judges, who thoroughly investigated the case against him.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs Mr. Bose actually accused of terrorist activities?
§ Mr. BUTLERMr. Bose was associated closely with one of the main terrorist parties, and this is the reason why he was detained.