List of Charges against Bahadur Shah

Proceedings of a European Military Commission assembled at Delhi on 27th day of January 1858:

Charges against the prisoner, Muhammed Bahadur Shah, Ex-King of Delhi:

1st – For that he, being a pensioner of the British Government in India, did at Delhi, at various times between the 10th May and 1st October 1857, encourage, aid and abet, Muhammed Bakht Khan, Subadar of the regiment of artillery, and divers others, Native Commissioned Officers and Soldiers unknown, of the East India Company Army, in the crimes of Mutiny and Rebellion against the State.

2nd – For having at Delhi, at various times between the 10th many and 1st October 1857, encouraged, aided and abetted Mirza Moghal, his own son, a subject of the British Government in India, and others unknown, inhabitants of Delhi, and of the North-West provinces of India, also subjects of the said British Government, to rebel and wage war against the State.

3rd – For that he, being a subject of the British Government in India, and not regarding the duty of his allegiance, did, at Delhi, on the 11th May 1857, or thereabouts, as a false traitor against the state, proclaim and declare himself the reigning King and Sovereign of India, and did then and there traitorously seize and take unlawful possession of the City of Delhi, and did moreover, at various times between the 10th of May and 1st October 1857, as such false traitor aforesaid, treasonably conspire, consult, and agree with Mirza Moghal, his own son, and with Muyhammed Bakht Khan, Subadar of the regiment of Artllery, and divers other false traitors unknown, to raise, levy, and make insurrection, rebellion, and war against the State, and further to fulfil and prefect his treasonable design of overthrowing and destroying the British Government in India did assemble armed forces at Delhi, and send them forth to fight and wage war against the said British Government.

4th – For that he, at Delhi, on the 16th of May 1857, or thereabout, did, within the precincts of the Palace at Delhi, feloniously cause, and become accessory to, the murder of 49 persons, chiefly women and children of European and mixed European descent; and did moreover between the 10th of May and 1st of October 1857, encourage and abet divers Soldiers and others in murdering European officers, and other English subjects, including women and children, both by giving and promising such murderers service, advancement, and distinctions; and further, that he issued orders to different Native Rulers having local authority in India, to slay and murder Christians and English people, whenever and wherever found on their Territories; the whole or any part of such conduct being an heinous offence under Act XVI of 1857, of the Legislative Council in India.

FRED J. HARRIOT, Major

Deputy Judge Advocate General & Government Prosecutor