Many have claimed that Gumnami Baba was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in hiding.
The mystery shrouding the identity of 'Gumnami Baba', whom many have claimed was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in hiding, has deepened further with Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Kolkata saying the electropherogram of the reclusive sadhu's teeth was not available with it.
An electropherogram shows a sequence of data that is produced by an automated DNA sequencing machine and is used for deriving results from genealogical DNA testing.
Replying to an RTI query by Sayak Sen, chief public information officer of CFSL BP Mishra said: "The electropherogram report of this case is not available at CFSL Kolkata."
In the reply dated February 4, 2020, he said: "The appeal, if any, may be made before director, appellate authority, CFSL-Kolkata in this regard within 30 days from the date of receipt of this letter."
The Vishnu Sahai Commission, looking into the mysterious death of Subhas Chandra Bose, had cited a report of the CSFL, Kolkata, to claim that Gumnami Baba was not Bose.
"The disclosure by CFSL has a direct bearing on the finding of Justice Vishnu Sahai Commission that Gumnami Baba was not Netaji. Justice Sahai in his just-released report used the CFSL report to the hilt to reject outright the view that Baba was Netaji," Mr Sen said in a statement, annexing the reply to his RTI query.
He claimed that Justice Sahai had merely cited Justice Mukhejee Commission's 2005 report in his own report, rather than order a fresh test as demanded by many.
"In view of accusations of foul play, I wanted to consult independent DNA experts to verify the test by the CFSL, and hence I filed this RTI application," said Mr Sen.
CFSL Kolkata had performed DNA test on three teeth of Gumnami Baba, who lived in Faizabad town of Uttar Pradesh and died on September 16, 1985. Two teeth were tested in CFSL, Hyderabad, and the result was inconclusive, while that of CFSL, Kolkata, said the DNA sample did not match Subhas Chandra Bose.
"We have been saying that the DNA report relied upon by the Mukherjee Commission was fudged. The DNA report submitted to the commission did not have electropherogram, a must to analyse the DNA. Now the truth has been proved," Mr Sen said.
Subhas Chandra Bose's grandnephew and BJP leader Chandra Kumar Bose rubbished the allegation.
"The RTI reply is saying that electropherogram report of this case is not available at CFSL, Kolkata. That doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. It is a baseless allegation," Mr Bose said.
The report of the one-member Vishnu Sahai Commission was tabled in the Uttar Pradesh assembly in December last year and it said Gumnami Baba was not Subhas Chandra Bose in disguise.
Subhas Chandra Bose was said to have died in a plane crash on August 18, 1945 in Taiwan. However, a section of people believes he
survived the crash and went into hiding to escape the British.