New History of the Marathas v3.c37.90

v3.c37.90

The agents could not mature any plan unless they had a full and direct talk with R’rao; but he was strictly guarded against any outside communication. In this predicament the Nagpur vakils consulted Sakharam Hari Gupte, a devoted partizan of R’rao, who had already been extremely offended by Narayanrao’s action in imposing social restrictions upon the Prabhu caste. They together managed to obtain a secret interview with R’rao, in which a plot was hatched for seizing and confining Narayanrao and placing Raghunathrao on the Peshwa’s seat. For the success of the plan it was necessary for R’rao to be free and to organize an armed force. One dark night in August Raghunathrao tried to escape leaning on the arm of Lakshman Kashi. He was detected by the guards and taken back to his custody. Lakshman Kashi managed to escape capture and ran out of Poona to save his life. This incident was reported to Narayanrao, who thereupon increased the rigour of his uncle’s confinement and ordered that he should not be allowed to step out of his room. All his necessaries were provided within a circumscribed area. It was R’rao’s practice as part of prayer, to stand in the open and gaze long at the sun. This practice came to be disallowed, which made the uncle so furious that matters began to head towards a crisis. His lavish expenditure was at the same time severely curtailed.