The Scam That Shook A Nation
- BY PRAKASH PATRA & RASHEED KIDWAI
- RELEASE YEAR: 2024
- PUBLISHER: HARPER COLLINS INDIA
The book delves deep into one of the most controversial scams in the political history of India- Agarwala affair of 1971.
The book revolves around Rustam Sohrab Agarwala, a retired army officer, impersonated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi over a phone call to withdraw Rs 60 Lakhs from the State Bank of India. The author has very well portrayed elements of crime, political scenarios to narrate the entire story.
The Author maintained the authenticity of the story by referring to official records, media reports. The book raises questions about possible political involvement and international agencies such as CIA. The book has throws light on the emotional aspect of the protagonist (Nagarwala) in the form of letter exchange between the protagonist and his mother as well as the unanswered plea her mother made to the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The Author also touches important political matters of the 1970s like the Bangladesh Liberation war as well as the period of emergency. A compelling look at how political power , bureaucracy and personal ambition intersect.
In a nutshell, the book is an interesting read for people seeking political history and true crime.
