New History of the Marathas v3.c37.83

v3.c37.83

4. Irritation begins, Visajipant Lele.—The first affair that led to an open rupture between the uncle and the nephew concerned one Visajipant Lele, a clever diplomat, efficient official and soldier of merit, who long held the post of the Governor of Bassein. He was the man who first exposed the British designs on Bassein and Thana and took timely measures to safeguard the Maratha interests there. He was high in the confidence of Sakharam Bapu and had served him faithfully in several awkward situations demanding mutual support. Visajipant’s corrupt practices were long known to Madhavrao whose regard he had consequently lost. Once it was reported to that Peshwa that Visajipant had misappropriated government property worth twenty lacs on account of the goods of a shipwrecked trading vessel, which he was bound in duty to credit to the public treasury. Madhavrao in his last days had for this offence dismissed the Pant from service. A few months later when Narayanrao became the Peshwa, Visajipant approached him for reinstatement and was supported by Sakharam Bapu. Narayanrao, however, sternly rejected Bapu’s recommendation and appointed Trimbak Vinayak to the Government of Bassein.⁴