Raja Nand Kumar 1775; Source: The Article

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In the eighteen century, Raja Nand Kumar served as the Governor of Hugli under Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah. 

Nand Kumar was a strong and popular landlord of Bengal. Due to his royalty towards the English East India Company, he was known as the *Black Colonel of the company*. He died in Calcutta in 1775 due to a legal decision. But why was he given judicial execution? Did the well-wisher of the company actually commit a serious crime?

Let's rewind the scene of his judicial trial. Warren Hastings was Governor-General at the time and presided over the Governor-General's Council. Members of his council, Francis, Clavering, and Monson, were always his opponents. They were looking for an opportunity to vilify Hastings. They caught Nand Kumar as an opportunity, for which they were waiting. All three council members incited Raja Nand Kumar to bring charges of bribery and corruption against Warren Hastings.

> Nand Kumar was easily provoked and handed over a letter to Francis in which he referred the complaints against the Governor-General of bribery and corruption. Francis used that letter as evidence to disgrace Hastings, and he placed it before the council at its meeting.

Barwell, a council member, suggested that Nand Kumar should file his complaint before the Supreme Court instead of the council. Francis and the team objected to this suggestion. They elected Clavering to preside over the meeting in place of Hastings.

They announced that the charges against Governor-General Warren Hastings were found to be true. Now Hastings was required to deposit the fine in the Treasury of the Company. 

> This incident made Hastings an enemy of Nand Kumar, and Warren Hastings was now looking for a chance to humiliate him.

Soon Raja Nand Kumar was charged and arrested for conspiring against Warren Hastings. Hastings wanted to take revenge at any cost so as to disgrace Raja Nand Kumar, he manipulated another case of Forgery against him.

The court sentenced him to the death penalty. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was Sir Elijah Impey, a friend of Hastings. Then, Warren Hastings succeeded in getting rid of Nand Kumar's allegations.

> This episode showed that there was arbitrariness and capriciousness in administration and justice in British India. There might be judicial executions and other incidents of British brutality that could be unseen to the eyes of justice.

The impeachment of Warren hasting led to the episode of judicial execution of Maharaja Nandkumar. Was it a fake allegation? Should there have been such a big punishment for someone getting provoked? 