Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte, VR. Karkare and G.M. Joshi then entered the office, Badge was asked to wait in the reception. The three of them came out of the office after half an hour. Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte, Vishnu R. Karkare and Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then came back to the Hindu Mahasabha Office. Vishnu R. Karkare and Digambar R. Badge asked Madanlal K. Pahwa to take his bedding and proceed with them. Narayan D. Apte brought a car, and Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte, Vishnu R. Karkare, Madanlal K. Pahwa and Digambar R. Badge, then proceeded to the house of Dixit Maharaj. Madanlal K. Pahwa's bedding was kept in the hall. Dixit Maharaj was unwell and lying on a bed. The 'stuff' that had been left in the house the previous evening, was brought to the room of Dixit Maharaj, and shown by Digambar R. Badge. After some conversation the bag containing the 'stuff' was handed over by Narayan D. Apte to Vishnu R. Karkare.
Narayan D. Apte asked Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa to leave for Delhi that evening. Vishnu R. Karkare then handed over the bag containing the 'stuff' to Madanlal K. Pahwa. Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa thereafter left the house of Dixit Maharaj.
Apte Asks for Revolver
Narayan D. Apte asked Dixit Maharaj if he could procure a revolver or two for him. Dixit Maharaj told him that he had no such arms with him at the time and that he would do all that he could to help them get one. Nathuram V Godse, Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge then came out of the house of Dixit Maharaj and stood in the compound of the temple. Narayan D. Apte asked Digambar R. Badge if he was prepared to go along with them to Delhi? He said - 'Tatayarao Savarkar (Vinayak D. Savarkar) has decided that Gandhiji, Jawaharlal Nehru and Suhrawardy should be 'finished', he has entrusted the work to us'.
Digambar R. Badge agreed to accompany them for the purpose to Delhi but said that first he would like to go back to Poona to make arrangements regarding household affairs. Nathuram V. Godse thereon said that he also had to go to Poona to meet his brother Gopal V. Godse, who had undertaken to procure a revolver, and to bring him down to Bombay to accompany them to Delhi. Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge then entered the taxi and proceeded back to the Hindu Mahasdabha Office. Digambar R. Badge got down from the taxi there. Narayan D. Apte asked Digambar R. Badge to meet him at the V.T. Railway Station on the morning of 17 January 1948. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte then went away in the taxi.
On 16 January 1948 early in the morning Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya came back to Poona. Digambar R. Badge then deposited the remaining 'stuff' lying with him at his house with one Ganpat S. Kharat (Amdar Kharat). Nathuram V. Godse went to see Digambar R. Badge twice at the Shastra Bhandar, but did not find him there. Digambar R. Badge thereafter went to the Hindu Rashtra Office, and met Nathuram V. Godse. Nathuram V Godse took out a small pistol, and asked Digambar R. Badge to get it exchanged for a big revolver. Digambar R. Badge had supplied a revolver to one Sharma, he exchanged the pistol for that revolver. Gopal V. Godse put in another application for seven days casual leave from 17 January 1948 to 23 January 1948 at Kirkee (Poona). The Application was granted this time.
Collection of Money
On 17 January 1948, in the morning, Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya came back to Bombay. Shankar Kistayya got down at Dadar and Digambar R. Badge got down at the V.T. Railway Station. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte met him there. Narayan D. Apte suggested to Digambar R. Badge that before proceeding to Delhi they should collect some money. Narayan D. Apte then engaged a taxi and proceeded therein along with Nathuram V. Godse and Digambar R. Badge to different places in Bombay. They succeeded in collecting money, on different pretexts, from Charandas Meghji, Ganpatrao B. Afzulpurkar and Mahadeo G. Kale.
During one of these visits from place to place, Shankar Kistayya was picked up from the Hindu Mahasabha Office. Nathuram V. Godse then suggested that they should all go and take a last darshan of Tatayarao Savarakar. Thus they proceeded to the Savarkar Sadan. Shankar Kistayya was asked to wait outside. Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge entered the compound. Narayan D. Apte asked Digambar R. Badge to wait in the room on the ground floor. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte went up to the first floor, they came down after 5-10 minutes. They were followed by Tatayrao Savarkar. Tatyarao Savarkar blessed them 'Yashasvi houn ya' (be successful and return). Nathuram V .Godse, Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then got into the taxi. On the way Narayan Apte said - 'Tatyaravani ase bhavishya kele aahe, ki Gandhijinchi shambhar varshe bharali - ata apale kam nishchit yashasvi honar yaat kahi sanshay nahi' (Tatyarao has predicted that Gandhiji's hundred years are over - there is no doubt that our work will now be successfully completed.).
Nathuram V. Godse asked that he should be left at a taxi stand; he was thus dropped off at a taxi stand. Narayan D. Apte along with Digambar R. Badge and Shankar Kistayya proceeded to the house of Dixit Maharaj. Shankar Kistayya was left in the hall, while Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge went into the interior of the house. Narayan D. Apte again asked Dixit Maharaj for a revolver. Dixit Maharaj showed him a small pistol but said that he would not hand it over unless he received money for it. Narayan D. Apte and Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then picked up Nathuram V. Godse and proceeded to the Juhu Aerodrome and then to Santa Cruz Aerodrome. Narayan D. Apte got down there, and handed over a sum of Rs.250/- to Digambar R. Badge and asked him to leave along with Shankar Kistayya for Delhi that day by the evening train. Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then proceeded to Kurla and discharged the taxi there.
Karkare and Madanlal in Delhi
On 17 January 1948 at about noon Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa reached Delhi. They proceeded to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan but could not find accommodation there. They then proceeded to the Sharif Hotel and stayed there. Vishnu R. Karkare stayed under the assumed name of 'B.M. Bias'. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte boarded the afternoon plane at the Santa Cruz Aerodrome and reached Delhi the same evening. They had travelled under the assumed names of 'D. N. Karmarkar' and 'S. Marathe'. They proceeded to the Marina Hotel, and stayed there under the assumed names 'S. Deshpande' and 'N. Deshpande'.
On 19 January 1948, Gopal V Godse came to the Sharif Hotel and spent some hours there with Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa. Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa thereafter left the Sharif Hotel.
Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya left Bombay by the Punjab Mail on 18 January 1948, and reached Delhi in the evening of 19 January 1948. They proceeded to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan and obtained accommodation there. They met Madanlal K. Pahwa and Gopal V. Godse there. Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte and Vishnu R. Karkare came soon thereafter to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan, and asked Digambar R. Badge and Shankar Kistayya to sleep in the hall. Madanlal K. Pahwa, Gopal V. Godse and Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then slept for the night in the hall.
Measurements Taken
On 20 January 1948, at about 8.30 am, Narayan D. Apte and Vishnu R. Karkare went to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. Narayan D. Apte then took Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya to Birla House and showed them the prayer platform where Mahatma Gandhi sat during the prayer meetings. He took measurements of the openings in the trellis-work grill of the window there. He told them that through that opening a revolver could be fired and also a hand grenade could be thrown from the room behind. He then showed them two places on either side of the back gate where a gun cotton slab would be exploded to divert the attention of the people collected at the prayer ground. He also pointed out to them the room behind the trellis-work ventilator and said that it was possible to enter that room posing as a photographer. They then came back to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan.
Narayan D. Apte asked Gopal V. Godse and Digambar R. Badge to fetch the revolvers they had brought with them and proceed to the jungle behind the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan to test them. Narayan D. Apte, Gopal V. Godse and Digambar R. B
adge along with Shankar Kistayya then proceeded to the jungle behind the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. The two revolvers were tested there. They then all came back to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan, and found Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa present there. Narayan D. Apte asked Vishnu R. Karkare to go with Madanlal K. Pahwa to the Marina Hotel. Narayan D. Apte then told Gopal V. Godse that they should also proceed to the Marina Hotel with the 'stuff'. All of them proceeded to the Marina Hotel. They gathered in Room No 40 of Marina Hotel, the room occupied by Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte.
Gopal V. Godse began repairing his revolver in the room. Narayan D. Apte, Vishnu R. Karkare, Madanlal K. Pahwa and Digambar R. Badge then began fixing primers to the gun-cotton slabs and detonators in the hand grenades in the bathroom. Nathuram V.Godse and Shankar Kistayya were also present in the bathroom. Nathuram V. Godse said 'Badge, this is our last effort - the work must be accomplished - see to it that everything is arranged properly'. They then all came back to the room. Gopal V. Godse meanwhile had repaired his revolver.
Work Divided
It was then decided amongst them as to who was to carry which weapons. Duties were also assigned to them. Vishnu R. Karkare, Madanlal K. Pahwa, Shankar Kistayya, Gopal V. Godse and DigambarR. Badge were to carry one hand grenade each. Shankar Kistayya and Digambar R. Badge were also to carry one revolver each. Madanlal K. Pahwa was to carry one gun cotton slab. Madanlal K. Pahwa was to explode the gun cotton slab near the rear compound wall of the Birla House on a signal given by Narayan D. Apte. Digambar R. Badge was to shoot at Gandhiji, with the revolver and to throw a grenade through the trellis-work grill, on a signal being given by Nathuram V. Godse. The others were to mix themselves up in the prayer ground. The 'Stuff' there after was distributed amongst them accordingly.
Vishnu R. Karkare and Madanlal K. Pahwa first left the Marina Hotel for the Birla House. Narayan D. Apte, Gopal V. Godse and Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then left the Marina Hotel for the Birla House. Nathuram V. Godse said that he would follow them a little later. While getting out of the Marina Hotel, Digambar R. Badge told Shankar Kistayya that he was to throw a hand grenade on the person on whom he threw a hand grenade; that he was to shoot at the person at whom he shot, that the person concerned was an old man known as 'Gandhiji' and that he was to be finished off.
Narayan D. Apte engaged a taxi, and with Digambar R. Badge, Shankar Kistayya and Gopal V Godse proceeded therein first to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan and then to the back of the Birla House. Gopal V. Godse left his bag in the cupboard of the hall of the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. They in due course met Madanlal K. Pahwa, Vishnu R. Karkare and Nathuram V. Godse at the back of Birla House. Narayan D. Apte asked Madanlal K. Pahwa 'tayyar hai kya?' Madanlal K. Pahwa said that he was ready, that he had placed the gun cotton slab and that it remained only to be ignited.
Digambar R. Badge was asked to enter the room behind the trellis- work ventilator. He, however, got frightened as he thought that, if he went into the room and something happened he would get trapped in that room. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte pressed Digambar R. Badge to enter the room but he refused to do so. He told them that rather than strike from inside the room he would prefer to strike from the front. Digambar R. Badge then along with Shankar Kistayya proceeded to the taxi and left the two revolvers wrapped in a towel therein. He also handed over his own hand grenade to Shankar Kistayya. Digambar R. Badge and Shankar Kistayya then went back to where Nathuram V Godse and others were standing.
Narayan D. Apte asked Digambar R. Badge if he was ready. He told him that he was ready and started proceeding towards the prayer ground along with Shankar Kistayya. Narayan D. Apte then placed his hand on Madanlal K. Pahwa's back and said 'Chalo', lets go. Vishnu R. Karkare also followed Digambar R. Badge and Shankar Kistayya towards the prayer ground.
Gun Cotton Slab Explodes
Soon thereafter, Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte along with Gopal V. Godse proceeded to the taxi. They asked the taxi driver to start the taxi and went away therein. Madanlal K. Pahwa meanwhile had exploded the gun cotton slab that he had placed on the rear compound wall. A number of persons rushed towards the scene of the explosion, and caught hold of Madanlal K. Pahwa. Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya on finding an opportunity left the prayer ground, and came back to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. Digambar R. Badge asked Shankar Kistayya to throw away the two hand grenades behind the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. He also asked him to throw away the contents of the bag that Gopal V. Godse had left in the cupboard. Shankar Kistaiyya did as ordered by his master. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte meanwhile came to the Hindu Mahasabha Bhavan. Digambar R. Badge abused them. They then went away.
Digambar R. Badge along with Shankar Kistayya then left Delhi for Mumbai and on to Poona that same evening, Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte also left Delhi for Bombay via Kanpur the same evening. Vishnu R. Karkare and Gopal V. Godse stayed for the night in the Frontier Hindu Hotel, and left Delhi the next day.
On 23 January 1948, Narayan D. Apte with a friend came to the Arya Pathik Ashram, Bombay and stayed there. They were allotted two beds in a general room containing eight beds. There were no two bed rooms available at the time. Narayan D. Apte stayed under the assumed name of 'D. Narayan'. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte got a two bed room in the Elphinstone Annexe Hotel from 24 January 1948. Nathuram V. Godse stayed there under the assumed name of 'N. Vinayakrav'. Narayan D. Apte meanwhile had managed to get a two bed room in the Arya Pathik Ashram, and spent the night between 24th and 25th January, with a lady there. He, then, shifted to the Elphinstone Annexe Hotel. Nathuram V Godse and Narayan D. Apte then stayed in the Elphinstone Annexe Hotel till 27 January 1948.
Seats in Plane Reserved
On 25 January 1948, in the morning Nathuram V Godse and Narayan D. Apte went to the Air-India Office and got two seats reserved in the names of 'D. Narayanrav' and 'N. Vinayakrav' by the plane scheduled to leave Bombay for Delhi on the morning of 27 January 1948. Nathuram V. Godse, Narayan D. Apte, Vishnu R. Karkare and Gopal V. Godse then met together at the house of G.M. Joshi of Shivaji Printing Press at Thana, and had a talk amongst themselves.
On 26 January 1948, in the morning, Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte met Dada Maharaj and Dixit Maharaj. They asked them to help them get a revolver. That evening Nathuram V. Godse again met Dixit Maharaj, and asked him if he had arranged a revolver for him. Dixit Maharaj replied that he had not.
On 27 January 1948, Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte left Bombay for Delhi by the morning plane. They travelled under theassumed names of 'D. Narayanrav' and 'N. Vinayakrav'. Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte then left Delhi the same afternoon by train and reached Gwalior at about 10.30 pm. They proceeded to the house of Dr. Dattatreya S. Parchure, and stayed there for the night.
On 28th January 1948, Nathuram V. Godse and Narayan D. Apte obtained an automatic pistol with the help of Dattatreya S. Parchure from one Jagdish Prasad Goyal. They then left Gwalior by train for Delhi.
On 29 January 1948, Nathuram V. Godse engaged a retiring room at the Delhi Main Railway Station under the assumed name of 'N. Vinayakrav'. Narayan D. Apte and Vishnu R. Karkare were with Nathuram V. Godse at the Delhi Main Railway Station on 29th and 30 January 1948.
On 30 January 1948, at about 5.00 p.m. Mahatma Gandhi, as usual proceeded to the prayer platform. He was accompanied by a number of persons. A large crowd was awaiting his arrival at the prayer platform. Mahatma Gandhi climbed up the stairs to the prayer platform. When he had gone six to seven paces, the crowd opened up into a lane to allow him to pass through. Nathuram V. Godse came out of the crowd into the gap in front of Mahatma Gandhi, and fired three shots at point blank range, in quick succession, at him with the automatic pistol brought from Gwalior. He was caught hold of then and there. Mahatma Gandhi succumbed to the injuries sustained by him soon after.
After reading out the prosecution's case against the accused and the report of the investigation, Daf
tary drew the attention of the Court towards some of the documents and letters submitted in the Court as evidence. He drew the attention of the Judge towards the articles appearing in the Agrani during the period from April 1947 till January 1948. After reading out the articles he pointed out to the court how the articles illustrated the opposition of the accused to the policies of Gandhiji.
Daftary's statement lasted for two hours and ten minutes. He spoke in a soft voice but his delivery was firm and emphasised the important issues in a loud and clear manner. He suggested that the Court should inspect the scene of the crime, Birla House on 24th June at 10.00 a.m. The Court accepted the suggestion and agreed to inspect Birla House. The Court inquired of the accused if they would wish to inspect Birla House. Nathuram declined, and said that he was not particularly inclined to visit Birla House. Apte, Karkare, Gopal Godse and Madanlal and their counsels expressed their desire to accompany the Court. Daftary raised an objection to taking the accused along and requested the Court to grant the accused and their counsels permission to visit Birla House at a later date, he also offered to provide the layout plans of Birla House to the Defence team. The Court overruled Daftary's objections and ordered the Police to make stringent security arrangements for the scheduled visit of the Court and the accused. The Court forbade the presence of spectators and the press during the inspection visit to Birla House.
Lets Kill Gandhi Page 105