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It took months to analyze them. Last week, on orders from Nehru himself, a squad of policemen swept up to Dalmia's white-pillared house in New Delhi. Dalmia, clutching two small gold idols, was carted off to jail while the house resounded to the piercing wails of his wives. The charge against one of the world's richest men: embezzlement of $4,200,000-worth of government bonds from his own Bharat Insurance Co., keystone of his empire.
In court, Dalmia confidently offered bail "in any quantity." But even he was staggered when the magistrate demanded $4,000,000 cash and $4,000,000 in sureties. Dalmia was released next day after putting up $3,000,000 himself, plus an other $1,000,000 in sureties offered by two relatives. As Dalmia went home, Premier Nehru held a press conference to discuss the progress of India's socialism. "The rich tend to fade out — a good thing," he remarked cheerily.