What seemed like an ordinary murder case unfolded into a scandal that captured global attention.
On January 12, 1925, a couple was attacked during a car ride in an upscale suburb of Bombay (now Mumbai) in colonial India. The brutal incident left Abdul Kadir Bawla — a 25-year-old influential textile businessman and the city’s youngest municipal official — dead, while his companion, Mumtaz Begum, suffered severe facial injuries.
The event, described by newspapers as “perhaps the most sensational crime committed in British India,” became a topic of heated discussion as the investigation progressed, ultimately leading to the abdication of an Indian king.
On the night of the murder, Bawla and Mumtaz Begum were driving with three others in Malabar Hill, a wealthy area along the Arabian Sea. Suddenly, another vehicle collided with theirs, forcing them to stop. The assailants shouted at Bawla before fatally shooting him.
British soldiers returning from a golf game heard the gunfire and rushed to the scene. They apprehended one of the attackers but suffered injuries when other assailants opened fire. The attackers attempted to seize Mumtaz Begum from the British officers as they worked to transport her to the hospital.
Speculation arose that the attackers had intended to abduct Mumtaz Begum, as Bawla had received threats for harboring her. He had been sheltering her for several months after she escaped the harem of the Maharaja of Indore, where she had experienced considerable control over her personal life.
The sensational nature of the case caught the interest of the public and even Hollywood. The Illustrated Weekly of India promised exclusive photos of Mumtaz Begum, and a silent murder thriller was produced based on the events less than a year later.
As the investigation progressed, evidence pointed to the influential princely state of Indore and its ruler, Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar III. Mumtaz Begum had fled from the Maharaja, who had restricted her movements and subjected her to constant surveillance. Her testimony described a stifling existence under his control, and she eventually escaped to Bombay.
The trial drew significant media attention, revealing that representatives of the Maharaja had indeed threatened Bawla to stop sheltering Mumtaz Begum. Following the murder, police apprehended several men connected to Indore, and the investigation exposed deep ties to the Maharaja.
This left the British government in a precarious position, as the conspiracy appeared to have been orchestrated in Indore, a loyal ally. The New Statesman described it as “the most awkward affair” for the British government, given the political implications of a prominent allied ruler being implicated in violence.
Amid mounting pressure from Bawla’s community and lawmakers, the case necessitated a swift response from the British government. A prominent trial ensued, featuring notable lawyers, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who defended one of the accused. Despite the trial’s attention, three men were sentenced to death, while three others received life sentences; the Maharaja was not held accountable.
Ultimately, the scandal led to the Maharaja’s abdication after he was faced with a choice between inquiry or resignation. He opted to step down, stipulating no further investigation into his alleged connections to the case. Following his abdication, he controversially married an American woman, which further stirred public sentiment.
Meanwhile, Mumtaz Begum sought a new life in the United States, receiving offers from Hollywood but eventually faded into obscurity after her move. The murder of Abdul Kadir Bawla not only upended lives but also altered the fate of a royal dynasty in British India.
Credit: BBC News