New History of the Marathas v2.c28.13

v2.c28.13

Najib Khan having been removed, Raghunathrao formally installed the Emperor on the throne, confirmed Ghazi-ud-din in the Wazirship and appointed Ahmad Khan Bangash Mir Bakhshi. He then despatched parties to take possession of the Doab and himself proceeded to Garh-mukteshvar apparently to settle the government of the territory surrendered by Najib Khan, but really to take a holy bath in the Ganges and purify his soul by a visit to the numerous sacred spots and scenes reminiscent of the ancient epic days. Renko Anaji and other Maratha captains secured Saharanpur after driving away Najib's deputy Qutb Shah, and proceeded up to the foot of the Himalayas driving Najib Khan to his original home beyond the Ganges. Raghunath wrote to the Peshwa glowing accounts about these achievements. He boasted of having established Maratha supremacy throughout north India from the Satlaj to the environs of Benares and proposed that he would soon release the Punjab from Abdali’s possession. Not a few discerning Maratha agents in the north brought to Raghunathrao’s notice the weakness of these arrangements, but the chief was so hypnotised by Holkar that he turned a deaf ear to them. Antaji Mankeshvar, the Hingnes, Govindpant Bundele, Gopalrao Barve, and others like them were all more or less corrupt, carrying on nefarious transactions to satisfy their selfish greed or private pique. After spending four months in arranging the affairs of Delhi where Antaji Mankeshvar and Krishnarao Kale were stationed, Raghunathrao left for the Punjab on 22nd October, the Dassara day, accompanied by Malharrao. They reached Kunjpura in January, accepted submission from its commandant Najabat Khan in February 1758 and reached Sarhind on 8th March.