The Poisoned Prince: The Germ Murders of the British Raj

In 1933, within the quiet corridors of the palace of the Pakur Raj, a death of the young Raja stirred more than grief—it raised suspicions. What seemed at first a tragic illness soon unraveled into one of India’s most chilling and unusual murder cases, when the Raja’s own, elder half-brother was accused of using a deadly germ as a weapon, turning modern science into a tool of silent assassination. Beneath the surface of royal decorum lay a dark tale of betrayal, ambition, and microscopic murder.

SOURCES

Morrison, Dan (2024) The Prince & The Poisoner. The History Press, London, UK.

Rudrajit, Paul (2019) Bacteria as a Murder Weapon: A Tale from Colonial Calcutta. Bengal Physician Journal 2019;6(2):37-39. India.

Chicago Tribune (1935) Two Must Die For Germ Murder Of Rich Indian. Chicago Tribune, Sun 17 Feb 1935, p3. Chicago, USA. 

Lincoln Journal Star (1935) The Mystery of the Famous Germ murder. Lincoln Journal Star, Sun 16 June 1935, p35. Lincoln, USA.

The New York Times (1935) Two Germ Murderers Convicted In India. The New York TImes, Sun Feb 17 1935, p1. NY, USA

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