Correct Option
Following the Chauri Chaura incident in February 1922, a large number of individuals were arrested and charged with rioting and arson. In the subsequent trials at the Gorakhpur Sessions Court, where initially 172 people were sentenced to death, Madan Mohan Malaviya, assisted by Krishna Kant, undertook the legal defence of the accused. Through their dedicated efforts, 153 individuals were acquitted, and the death sentences of many others were commuted, significantly reducing the severity of the judicial outcomes.
Incorrect Options
C. R. Das: Chittaranjan Das was a prominent lawyer and a significant leader in the Indian nationalist movement, known for his legal acumen and political activism. However, he was not involved in the specific legal defence of the accused in the Chauri Chaura trials.
Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew and Khwaja Hasan Nizami: Dr. Saifuddin Kitchlew was a key leader of the Khilafat Movement and a nationalist, while Khwaja Hasan Nizami was also a notable figure. While both were active in the political landscape of the time, they did not participate in the legal proceedings concerning the Chauri Chaura incident.
M. A. Jinnah: Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a distinguished barrister and political leader, known for his defence in several high-profile political cases, including that of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. However, he was not associated with the legal defence of the individuals arrested in connection with the Chauri Chaura incident.