Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Statue Desecration Sparks Outrage in Odisha

Newly exposed historical documents confirm British plans to execute Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose for treason during World War II, contrasting sharply with the current neglect of his monument in Bhubaneswar. The defaced monument has sparked intense public outrage and demands for immediate government restoration.

Bhubaneswar, June 19, 2026 — Declassified papers have confirmed that the British intended to put Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on trial for treason and hang him as a war criminal at the end of World War II. In fact, Winston Churchill had signed an executive order to have Netaji “shot on sight” anywhere within the British Empire following his daring escape from India in 1941. The files declassified by the British in 2016 reveal that a concerted effort was made to try and execute Netaji—potentially in Malaya, Singapore, or another location outside mainland India—to avoid sparking nationwide revolts.

According to declassified “Netaji Files,” Field Marshal Viscount Wavell discussed trying and executing Netaji outside of India, specifically in Singapore or Malaya. They knew bringing him back to Indian soil would trigger massive public outrage. They had realized that executing or hanging Netaji would destroy the British Empire’s remaining grip on India.

The British could never capture him, but they did put his three INA generals (Shah Nawaz Khan, Prem Sahgal, and Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon) on trial at the Red Fort in late 1945. They were sentenced to death, but this had triggered massive nationwide protests. The public outrage was so intense that the British were forced to commute their sentences.

Cut to 2026. The statue of Netaji, which was in the precinct of the Bhubaneswar Court Complex, was removed and kept in one corner along with a scrapped station wagon a few years ago. This was done with the intention that it would be re-installed in front of the new court complex once it was completed. The statue had been damaged during the relocation and has been lying forgotten for years.

The new court building was inaugurated by the President of India in December 2024, with the Governor and the Chief Justice of the High Court being in attendance. Netaji’s statue was forgotten and lay forlorn in one corner of the complex, by the side of the main road to Puri. Our enquiries at the complex and talking to many advocates, we came to know that the matter had been raised by the lawyers many times; in fact, during one of the pre-inspection visits of the Law Minister, the statue had been shown to him. In February 2024, the Odisha Chapter of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) had even filed a police complaint with the Capital P.S. in this matter. Many media channels had carried the news and even met the authorities in this regard, but to no avail from the authorities.

Today, the Netaji sits on his crippled steed with a broken neck, broken hands, and a bewildered expression.

The surrounding is full of garbage, empty booze bottles, and trash. Ironically, it is just opposite the Odisha State Museum,

in one corner of the new Judicial Complex, on the boundary of the Old Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation building. Hundreds of lawyers, judges, students, government officials, and even ministers pass the place, which is on the main Bhubaneswar-Puri highway, and see the shameful spectacle every day. The Britishers could not hang the titan of India’s Independence, but the present ruling dispensation have broken his neck and left him hanging. It is a national shame, more so for Odisha, the birthplace of this great martyr.

Yesterday, the Veterans Club of Odisha went to the place and draped the shameful spectacle in cloth. Bidyadhar Nayak, the President of the Veterans, and his team have called out to the government to take proper action immediately; otherwise, the Veterans will take it upon themselves to take appropriate steps to stop this dishonour to the national hero.

Anil Dhir, the Convener of Intach’s Bhubaneswar Chapter, has written to the authorities that they can repair the statue and restore it to its former glory, after which it can be placed at any appropriate site by the authorities. The Veterans have given an ultimatum to the government to take action for this disgraceful neglect. The same set of politicians who offer lip service of Netaji on his birthday are oblivious to the disgrace being meted out to him.

History of the Red Fort Trials

The British strategy to suppress the Indian National Army (INA) culminated in the historic Red Fort trials of 1945. By placing Colonel Prem Sahgal, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Major General Shah Nawaz Khan on trial, the British Raj hoped to demonstrate colonial authority.

Instead, the move backfired dramatically, uniting diverse factions of the Indian independence movement. Defended by a legal team that included Jawaharlal Nehru and Bhulabhai Desai, the parameters of the trial ignited widespread civilian defense campaigns and mutinies within the Royal Indian Navy, severely weakening the British administrative grip on the subcontinent.

FAQs

What do the declassified British files reveal about Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose?

The declassified documents from 2016 show that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill issued a “shot on sight” order against Netaji in 1941. Colonial administrators planned to execute him in a location like Singapore or Malaya to avoid triggering widespread uprisings across India.

Why was the Netaji statue relocated in Bhubaneswar?

The monument was moved to a corner of the judicial grounds to make way for the construction of the new Bhubaneswar Court Complex, under the assumption that it would be restored and re-installed upon the project’s completion.

What is the current physical condition of the Netaji monument?

The structure exhibits extensive damage, including a severed neck and broken hands. It remains surrounded by refuse and debris directly adjacent to the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway.

What actions have civil groups taken regarding the defaced statue?

The International Human Rights Commission filed a police report in February 2024. More recently, the Veterans Club of Odisha covered the defaced monument in cloth, while INTACH has requested administrative permission to fund and execute full structural repairs.