Maharaja Nandakumar

Maharaja Nandakumar (died 1775; also called Nuncomar) was a Mughal Indian tax official best known for his connection with Warren Hastings. He learned Vaishnava from Radhamohana Thakura. He was appointed collector of Burdwan in 1764 in place of Hastings, which resulted in a long-standing enmity.

In 1775, when Hastings was governor-general, Nandakumar brought accusations of peculation against him, which were entertained by Philip Francis and the other members of council inimical to Hastings. While the matter was still pending Nandakumar was indicted for forgery, condemned and executed.

Hastings, along with Sir Elijah Impey, the chief justice, was impeached by Parliament. They were accused by Burke (and later by Macaulay) of committing judicial murder; but Sir James Stephen, who examined the trial in detail, states that the indictment for forgery arose in the ordinary course, was not brought forward by Hastings, and that Impey conducted the trial with fairness and impartiality.

See Sir James Stephen, The Story of Nuncomar (2 vols., 1885); and, for another treatment of the case, H Beveridge, The Trial of Nanda Kumar (Calcutta, 1886).

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 
• Charges against Sir Elijah Impey

External links

• The story of Nuncomar and the impeachment of Sir Elijah Impey Cornell University Library Historical Monographs Collection. {Reprinted by} Cornell University Library Digital Collections