While James was in Outram Remand Centre he was offered voluntary repatriation to India. Earlier, a friend he made during his stay in India after the war – called Kamath – had learnt of his detention. Kamath was now an MP in India and he raised the matter in the Indian Parliament and suggested that Indians of like of James should be welcomed to settle in India.
The Indian Government took up the matter and one day the Indian Representative in Malaya, a man called Gopalan Menon approached the British authorities regarding the matter. James was willing to accept the offer provided the same was granted to Abdullah Majid. The Indians however disagreed with the idea and the proposed journey to India did not materialise.
In the quieter atmosphere of the Outram Remand Centre, he began to read seriously on an aspect of finance economics and this was continued after his release.
Corridon visited James at Outram from time to time and by this time they had come to know one other rather well.