Bengal government may have more Netaji files: Family and researchers

KOLKATA: Welcoming the release of cabinet papers on Netaji and allied issues from 1938 to 1947, his family and researchers today said the West Bengal government might have some more secret files in its possession, a contention denied by the Kolkata Police.

"This is a very bold step and the family is very happy with her ( Mamata Banerjee) decision. She is proving that her government is a transparent one," Netaji's grand-nephew Chandra Bose told PTI.

However, Bose and a researcher say some Netaji files might still be lying hidden inside the cupboards of government buildings.

"I am told that there are at least nine files which were given before the Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry into the disappearance of Netaji which have not yet been made public. But we trust that if this comes to the notice of our chief minister, she will release it as she has nothing to lose," he said.

Researcher Dr Jayanto Chaudhuri of Netaji Chetna Manch said he even had file numbers of documents which were submitted before the Mukherjee Commission but are yet to be made public.

"I have found that there are 12 files which are still not released. They belonged to the Intelligence Bureau under the state Home Department and talked about activities of revolutionaries between 1941-42," Chaudhuri said.

However, Kolkata Police Commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha said all files related to Netaji had been released and nothing was kept on hold.

"We have released each and every file related to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and his family. Nothing has been held back," Purkayastha told PTI when asked if some files were "not released" as alleged by his family and researchers.

Of the 64 files released on September 18, nine were with the state police while 55 were with Kolkata Police.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after the release of the files had said, "If I knew that the files were with us, I would have released them long back.

The chief minister also released a CD containing information about the papers of 401 cabinet meetings during the crucial phase of 1938-47 which were witness to 'Quit India' movement, the great 'Bengal Famine' and the partition of Bengal.