The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c21.s1.37

v4.c21.s1.37

Ghāzī-ud-dīn resented this movement and disliked the proximity of the imperial army. He tried to induce the emperor by intimidation to retire, warning him that a force of several thousand Marāthā horse, whose intentions were unknown, had been seen in the neighbourhood. It happened that Malhār Rāo Holkar, whose son Khande Rāo had been killed in action against the Jāts, bitterly resented the emperor’s refusal to supply the army with artillery, and had secretly left the camp to force compliance or to punish him for refusal. His presence in the neighbourhood of the camp became known, and the emperor, his mother, and the minister, whose cowardice was notorious, without warning any of their intention, entered their litters and fled towards Delhi, leaving the army and the imperial harem to their fate. In the morning the army, without a leader, was helpless before Holkar, who stripped the men of their arms, took their horses, and plundered the camp, capturing the ladies of the imperial harem, whom, however, he treated with respect.