Lahore Conspiracy Case (1928–31)

The Lahore Conspiracy Case (1928–1931) was one of the most significant political trials during the Indian freedom struggle. It revolved around the revolutionary activities of members of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), particularly their involvement in the assassination of British police officer J. P. Saunders and the subsequent Central Legislative Assembly bombing. The case not only exposed the growing revolutionary fervour among Indian youth but also transformed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev into immortal martyrs of India’s independence movement.

Background and Context

By the late 1920s, the Indian National Movement was undergoing a transformation. The Non-Cooperation Movement (1920–22) had generated mass enthusiasm but ended abruptly following the Chauri Chaura incident, leaving many young nationalists disillusioned with the Indian National Congress’s moderate approach. These radical youths, inspired by the Russian Revolution (1917) and revolutionary nationalism, began organising underground groups that believed in direct action to overthrow British rule.
The Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA), formed in 1928 by leaders such as Chandrashekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru, sought to combine nationalism with socialism. The HSRA aimed not only for political freedom but also for the establishment of a socialist republic based on equality and justice.

The Simon Commission and the Death of Lala Lajpat Rai

In 1928, the British Government appointed the Simon Commission to recommend constitutional reforms for India. The commission was met with nationwide protests because it had no Indian members, symbolising continued colonial disregard for Indian opinion.
In Lahore, a massive protest was organised under the leadership of Lala Lajpat Rai, a prominent nationalist leader. On 30 October 1928, during a peaceful demonstration against the Commission, police under Superintendent James A. Scott lathi-charged the protesters brutally. Lala Lajpat Rai was seriously injured and succumbed to his injuries on 17 November 1928.
Lajpat Rai’s death enraged Indian youth. The HSRA, blaming Scott for the assault, resolved to avenge his death through revolutionary action.

The Assassination of J. P. Saunders

On 17 December 1928, a group of HSRA revolutionaries comprising Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, and Chandrashekhar Azad planned to assassinate James A. Scott. However, in a case of mistaken identity, they shot Assistant Superintendent of Police J. P. Saunders instead, believing him to be Scott.
Saunders was shot dead outside the Lahore Police Headquarters by Rajguru and Bhagat Singh, while Chandrashekhar Azad covered their escape by shooting a pursuing constable, Chanan Singh. This incident, later referred to as the Saunders Murder Case, marked a decisive escalation in revolutionary activity against British rule.
After the assassination, the revolutionaries managed to evade capture. Bhagat Singh disguised himself by cutting his hair and beard (a significant act for a Sikh), enabling him to escape from Lahore.

The Central Legislative Assembly Bombing (1929)

To draw public attention to the cause of Indian independence and protest against the passage of repressive bills (notably the Public Safety Bill and Trade Disputes Bill), the HSRA decided to stage a symbolic protest in the Central Legislative Assembly in Delhi.
On 8 April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Batukeshwar Dutt threw two non-lethal bombs into the Assembly chamber from its visitors’ gallery. They shouted slogans of “Inquilab Zindabad” (Long Live the Revolution) and threw pamphlets explaining their motives, asserting that the bombs were intended “to make the deaf hear.”
Importantly, the bombs were designed to cause no fatalities. Both revolutionaries deliberately courted arrest, intending to use the trial as a platform to propagate their revolutionary ideology.

The Lahore Conspiracy Case

Following their arrest, British authorities linked Bhagat Singh and his associates to both the Assembly Bombing and the Saunders murder. To consolidate these investigations, the government initiated the Lahore Conspiracy Case, encompassing all related revolutionary activities.
The Lahore Conspiracy Case was officially filed in July 1929, with multiple revolutionaries named as accused. The trial was conducted in the Special Tribunal constituted under the Lahore Conspiracy Case Ordinance, 1930, passed under the emergency powers of the Viceroy to expedite proceedings.
The main accused included:

• Bhagat Singh
• Shivaram Rajguru
• Sukhdev Thapar
• Jatin Das
• Keshab Chakravarty
• Kartar Singh
• Jaidev Kapoor
• Manmohan Banerjee
• Batukeshwar Dutt (already sentenced separately in the Assembly Bomb Case)

Proceedings and Jail Struggle

The accused revolutionaries treated the courtroom as a platform to expose British imperialism and explain their vision of a free, socialist India. They refused to seek mercy or compromise.
During imprisonment, they launched a historic hunger strike demanding equality of treatment for Indian political prisoners, who were being denied the rights afforded to European prisoners. The strike, which lasted over two months, attracted widespread public attention and sympathy across India.
Jatin Das, one of the revolutionaries, died on 13 September 1929 after a 63-day hunger strike, further galvanising national sentiment. His death led to massive protests, and his body was received with honour across India, from Lahore to Calcutta.

The Verdict

After prolonged proceedings, the Special Tribunal delivered its judgment on 7 October 1930.

• Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were sentenced to death.
• Several others received life imprisonment or long-term sentences.

Despite widespread appeals for clemency and nationwide agitation demanding commutation of the death sentences, the British Government remained unmoved.
On 23 March 1931, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev were executed at Lahore Central Jail, a day ahead of the scheduled date, to avoid public unrest. Their bodies were secretly cremated near the Sutlej River under heavy police guard.

Significance of the Case

The Lahore Conspiracy Case marked a turning point in India’s struggle for freedom in several ways:

• Martyrdom and Inspiration: The execution of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev made them martyrs and icons of resistance. Their courage and sacrifice inspired generations of Indians to join the struggle for independence.
• Shift in Nationalist Strategy: The case highlighted the emergence of revolutionary socialism as a new ideological current within the freedom movement, appealing especially to the youth.
• Public Awakening: The hunger strike and fearless defiance of the revolutionaries exposed the moral bankruptcy of British rule and stirred massive public sympathy for the cause of independence.
• Revolutionary Ideology: Bhagat Singh’s writings and courtroom statements articulated a modern, rational, and socialist vision of India, shifting revolutionary discourse from mere nationalism to social transformation.