A Century Later: The Infamous Bawla Murder Case That Shook British India

On January 12, 1925, a murder that would later be described as "perhaps the most sensational crime committed in British India" occurred in Bombay, colonial India. Abdul Kadir Bawla, a wealthy textile businessman and the youngest municipal official in the city, was shot dead in a brutal attack that also left his female companion, courtesan Mumtaz Begum, injured.

The couple was ambushed in Malabar Hill, an upscale area known for its affluent residents and scarce automobiles. During a drive with three others, another car forced theirs to a stop. Eyewitness accounts, including Mumtaz Begum's testimony, revealed that the assailants shouted for her to be removed from the vehicle before Bawla was shot.

British soldiers nearby responded to the gunfire, managed to apprehend one suspect, and were met with gunfire from the fleeing attackers. Newspaper coverage labeled Bawla's murder as a high-profile scandal, bringing significant media attention to the case.

Investigations uncovered links between the attackers and the princely state of Indore, where Mumtaz Begum had previously lived in the harem of Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar III. Threats against Bawla were revealed, highlighting a conspiracy involving the Maharaja’s representatives, which pressured British authorities as they struggled to maintain political stability.

As the case went to trial, it drew top legal talent, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who would later become Pakistan's founder. The court ultimately sentenced three men to death and three others to life imprisonment, while stopping short of holding the Maharaja accountable.

Facing mounting pressure and public scrutiny, the Maharaja was given the choice to abdicate or face an inquiry. He chose to abdicate, and following this scandal, he would further stir controversy by marrying an American woman.

In the aftermath, Mumtaz Begum sought new beginnings in Hollywood but eventually faded from public view. The Bawla murder case remains a poignant reminder of the intersections of power, love, and consequence in colonial India.