(a) whether the Finance Minister of the then Nizam of Hyderabad had transferred a
million pounds to National Westminster Bank of London, which were further transferred
to the account of Pakistan High Commission in the same bank;
(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith its current value; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to bring back this money to the country?
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI PRANAB MUKHERJEE)
(a) Yes.
(b) On 20th September 1948 an amount of over one million Pound Sterling (1,007,940 Pound Sterling
and 9 Shillings) from an account of the Nizam of Hyderabad’s Government in National Westminster
Bank, London, was transferred into an account in the name of the then High Commissioner of
Pakistan in London. The transfer was without the consent of the Nizam’s Government. The fund
stood at Pound sterling 31,966,253.77 (Pound Sterling thirty one million nine hundred sixty
six thousand two hundred and fifty three and Shillings seventy-seven only) in January 2008
and has been re-deposited.
(c) From 1960 onwards, the issue has been discussed at various levels with Pakistan. India and
Pakistan are making efforts to reach an out-of-court settlement with the heirs of the Nizam of
Hyderabad.