Book Review: ‘The Scam That Shook a Nation’ by Rasheed Kidwai and Prakash Patra

Book Title: The Scam That Shook a Nation: The Nagarwal Scandal
Author(s): Rasheed Kidwai and Prakash Patra
Publisher: HarperCollins India
Number of Pages: 232
ISBN: 978-9356998629
Date Published: May 24, 2024
Price: INR 270

Book Review

The biggest bank robbery in the capital hit the headlines. Rs. 60 lakhs was spirited away from the State Bank of India on Parliament Street under mysterious circumstances. The mystery deepened with the alleged involvement of members of the Prime Minister’s secretariat and officials in the bank.

“The Scam That Shook a Nation: The Nagarwal Scandal” by Rasheed Kidwai and Prakash Patra is a compelling exploration of one of India’s most infamous fraud cases, the Nagarwala scandal of 1971. At the heart of this gripping narrative is the audacious deception orchestrated by Rustom Sohrab Nagarwala, an official at the State Bank of India. Posing as Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Nagarwala convinced bank staff to withdraw a staggering sum of ₹60 lakhs under false pretenses, sparking a nationwide scandal that exposed vulnerabilities within institutions and ignited widespread debate.

Both the authors meticulously unravel the layers of deceit that characterized the Nagarwala case. From Nagarwala’s clever impersonation tactics to the swift fallout and subsequent investigations, the authors provide a detailed account based on police records, press reports, and depositions before the Justice Jaganmohan Reddy Commission. They delve into the trial’s controversial aspects, including Nagarwala’s abrupt confession and the lingering suspicions surrounding the true motives behind the scam.

Beyond the sensational headlines, “The Scam That Shook a Nation” offers a nuanced examination of political corruption and institutional integrity. Kidwai, a seasoned journalist and political analyst, brings his expertise to bear on the complexities of the case, while Patra’s journalistic background adds depth to their investigative approach. The book not only chronicles the events that rocked India in 1971 but also provides insights into how such scandals resonate in the country’s political and social fabric decades later.

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With its meticulous research and compelling narrative, “The Scam That Shook a Nation” stands as a definitive work on the Nagarwala scandal. It sheds light on the vulnerabilities of governance and the enduring impact of deception on public trust, making it essential reading for anyone interested in India’s history of political scandals and the dynamics of corruption in public institutions.

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