Maharaja Nandakumar

Who was Maharaja Nandakumar?

M Nandakumar, also called Nuncomar was a King of West Bengal, and Indian tax official best known for his connection with Warren Hastings. He was appointed collector of Burdwan in 1764 in place of Hastings, which resulted in a long-standing enmity. He was hanged in Kolkata in 5 August 1775, for alleged forgeries committed by him.

In 1775, when Hastings was governor-general, Nandakumar brought accusations of peculation against him, which were entertained by Sir Philip Francis and the other members of council inimical to Hastings.

Hastings, along with Sir Elijah Impey, the chief justice, was impeached by Parliament. They were accused by Burke 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.