Kolkata: The justice Manoj Mukherjee commission probing the disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on January 9 said it might have to seek an extension after May 14 when its term expired, for completing investigations because of the Centre's delay in providing documents.

Criticising the Centre for failing to persuade the British government to declassify relevant documents, justice Mukherjee told reporters after a hearing on January 9, "The government assured the commission that it will take up the matter with the UK government, but nothing has been done in the last three months."

He said he had met the External Affairs Minister, but "the UK government is not willing to give some papers – not before 2021."

The one-man commission was also yet to receive documents from Russia and Vietnam.

"Because of this, we may have to seek extension over the May 14 deadline for completing the probe," he said.

Tarakeswar Pal, representing the government at the inquiry commission, denied any lack of efforts by the Centre and said the British government was to be held responsible for the delay in declassifying documents.

Meanwhile, four family members of Netaji – two each from the paternal and maternal sides – have agreed to undergo DNA tests to establish the identity of an ascetic, Gumnami Baba, who ran an ashram in Faizabad and was claimed by many to be Netaji.

Blood samples of the four – Subrata Bose, Dr D N Bose, Nirupam Som and Sadhan Kar – would be sent to Hyderabad for the DNA tests, justice Mukherjee said.

PTI