One of the most popular theories that Bose had survived the crash and came back to India and lived in disguise. It revolves around a mysterious figure called Gumnami Baba, an ascetic who lived in Faizabad, UP and died on September 16, 1985.
Many have pointed out the striking resemblance between Netaji and Gumnami Baba who mysteriously appeared in Faizabad in 1982.
Adding to the mystery was the belongings that Baba had left behind after his death. In 2016 when a box containing the Baba's belonging was opened authorities found items in his box included binoculars issued by the German military dating back to World War II, British-made Empire Corona Classic portable typewriter and a vintage porcelain tea set.
There was also a family portrait, and a photograph of Netaji's parents, Jankinath Bose and Prabhawati Bose in the box.
However, a DNA test of the teeth of Gumnami Baba had disproved claims that the Faizabad-based ascetic was Netaji. Now in a fresh twist, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CSFL), Kolkata, which conducted the DNA test has said that electropherogram of the reclusive sadhu's teeth was not available with it.
An electropherogram shows a sequence of data that is produced by an automated DNA sequencing machine and is used for deriving results from genealogical DNA testing.
Replying to an RTI query by Sayak Sen, a Netaji enthusiast, B P Mishra, the chief public information officer of CFSL said, "The electropherogram report of this case is not available at CFSL Kolkata.
The Vishnu Sahai Commission looking into the mysterious death of Netaji had cited a report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CSFL), Kolkata, to claim that Gumnami Baba was not Bose.
"The disclosure by CFSL has a direct bearing on the finding of Justice Vishnu Sahai Commission that Gumnami Baba was not Netaji. Justice Sahai in his just-released report used the CFSL report to the hilt to reject outright the view that Baba was Netaji," Sen said in a statement.