Archive · 3 Jan 2026
INA Defendants Freed After Historic Trial
On January 3, 1946, three men who were part of the Indian National Army (INA) were freed after a trial in the Red Fort in Delhi.
They were accused of fighting against the British king.
The trial was a big deal in India, and many people supported the INA.
The British wanted to show that joining the INA was wrong, but instead, it made people even more determined to fight for India's freedom.
The men were found guilty but were released immediately.
This event was a big step towards India becoming independent.
Three INA defendants were released on January 3, 1946, after being found guilty of waging war against the king.
The trial was held in the Red Fort in Delhi and was a significant event in India's freedom struggle.
The defendants were Major-General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, and Prem Kumar Sahgal, representing different religions.
The British intended to show the consequences of joining the INA, but the trial instead boosted support for India's independence.
The defense team included prominent leaders like Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Asaf Ali.
- Who
- Major-General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Prem Kumar Sahgal
- What
- Release of INA defendants after trial
- When
- January 3, 1946
- Where
- Red Fort, Delhi
- Why
- To demonstrate loyalty and oaths in the Indian Army, but it backfired and boosted India's freedom movement
- Date
- January 3, 1946
- Location
- Red Fort, Delhi
- Defendants
- Major-General Shah Nawaz Khan, Colonel Gurbaksh Singh Dhillon, Prem Kumar Sahgal
- Charge
- Waging war against the king
- Sentence
- Life imprisonment, later commuted
- Defense Team
- Bhulabhai Desai, Jawaharlal Nehru, Asaf Ali
- Significance
- Boosted India's freedom movement