The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c28.52

v3.c28.52

The king sent for Nizām-ud-dīn Hasan Gīlānī, the murdered man’s treasurer, and discovered, to his chagrin, that Mahmūd, with all his opportunities for acquiring wealth, had left no hoard, having distributed his income, as he received it, in charity. The faithful servant boldly taxed the king with having shed innocent blood and challenged him to prove his minister’s guilt. Muhammad, too late, commanded his betrayers to produce the messenger with whom the letter had been found, and on receiving no answer hurriedly left the hall of audience, leaving the courtiers trembling with apprehension. On reaching his chamber he gave way to paroxysms of grief and remorse. The body was sent to Bīdar for burial, escorted by the young prince Mahmūd, the king himself being unable to accompany it owing to the refusal of the nobles to march with him. Fathullāh and Khudāvand Khān, both members of the Deccani party, refused even to see him for the purpose of discussing the punishment of the conspirators, and bluntly replied to his summons that they would not trust the murderer of such a minister as Mahmūd, but would shape their conduct by the advice of Yūsuf ‘Ādil Khān. Muhammad recalled Yūsuf, but he would not join the royal camp, and encamped apart, with Fathullāh and Khudāvand Khān.