Frederick Forsyth's Jackal in Bombay: The saga of an ‘assassination plot' against Indira Gandhi

Indian Express

a day ago

Frederick Forsyth, who died on June 9, would never have dreamt that the storyline of his immensely popular novel The Day of the Jackal (1971) and its film adaptation (1973) would inspire somebody to issue a fake alert in 1974 to frighten India's security management, resulting in the cancellation of an event that was to be attended by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Bombay. Papers on this might still be available with the Mumbai Special Branch archives.
In 1974, the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) wanted Mrs Gandhi to perform the 'Bhoomi Poojan' ceremony of its new premises, which were to be built on reclaimed land at Nariman Point. In 1969, she inaugurated the temporary NCPA auditorium in Akash Ganga building on Bhulabhai Desai Road in the presence of eminent persons like J R D Tata and Karan Singh, and she was keen to participate in the foundation laying ceremony in 1974.
I was then working as the head of the Bombay City Special Branch CID and was in charge of all security arrangements in the city, including VVIP security. I was also liaising with NCPA Chairman Jamshed Bhabha, brother of the nuclear scientist Dr Homi Bhabha, and Executive Director, Dr VK Narayana Menon.
Making the security arrangements for the PM, who would be a stationary target among the audience at night, was a nightmare since the concrete shells of several incomplete buildings surrounded the open place where the function was to be held. I decided to post hundreds of policemen on every floor of the ghost buildings.
This was when the sensational movie, The Day of the Jackal, was running in theatres. It was on everybody's mind, including the Intelligence Bureau, which was responsible for organising the PM's security through the local police, as the Special Protection Group did not exist then. The film's plot was based on an actual incident, which took place on August 22, 1962, when Jean-Marie Bastien-Thiry, a French Air Force lieutenant colonel, ambushed President Charles de Gaulle and his wife. Bastien-Thiry had conspired with the Organisation Armée Secrète, which had opposed Algerian independence, to fire at the president's convoy in the Paris suburb of Petit-Clamart. In the film, 'the Jackal' (played by British actor Edward Fox) hid in a building adjoining the ceremonial area and shot at the president while he was awarding medals during the Liberation Day function.
As the security arrangements were being organised, Maharashtra Governor Ali Yawar Jung summoned me and the Commissioner of Police, MG Mugve, to the Raj Bhavan. He told us that Soli Batlivala, a freedom fighter and well-known social activist, who was also connected with the NCPA, had met him to convey some worrying information. Batlivala said he had overheard two students discussing an assassination attempt on the PM during the function. The Governor asked me to get full details from Batlivala. We briefed him about the vulnerabilities of the location although we were confident of organising enough protection.
However, all my attempts to contact Batlivala failed. He was just not traceable. Several of my officers were detailed to track him down. He seemed to have vanished into thin air after setting the cat among the pigeons. I reported this to the Governor who decided to personally go to Delhi to request Mrs Gandhi to cancel the function. Reluctantly. she agreed, much to the dismay of Jamshed Bhabha.
The truth came out later. After the function was cancelled, Batlivala reappeared and told the officers trailing him that it had been a hoax. He did not want Jamshed Bhabha to be in the limelight as 'he did not like him.' Commissioner Mugve was furious and wanted to prosecute him. He wrote to the Maharashtra government, seeking permission to initiate prosecution, but clearance was denied.
Amiya Nath Bose, Subhas Chandra Bose's nephew, has recorded that Batlivala, on behalf of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India, was in talks with Netaji about his plan to send a secret letter to the Soviet Union leadership, seeking help for India's liberation. Why did this eminent man pull such a fast one on the Maharashtra Governor? I have no answer. Ultimately, it was J R D Tata who laid the NCPA foundation stone on April 17, 1976.
The writer retired as Special Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat. Views personal