Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c44.s2.13

v4.c44.s2.13

When Mahādji sent his minister to demand the surrender of his escaped criminal, Ali Bahādur replied that he had neither invited the offender nor was detaining him, and that Sindhia might come and take him away. But the backs of the officers of the Punā contingent under Ali Bahādur were now up; they cried out that as the Gosain had sought asylum under the Peshwā's zari patkā, the honour of their master demanded that he should be protected with their own lives. For three days (21st to 24th July) Sindhia's troops invested Ali Bahādur's camp, the latter's men stood to arms, and a civil war between the two servants of the Peshwā seemed imminent. But again Rānā Khan's moderate counsels prevailed and Mahādji was induced to recall his troops and after long wrangling finally to refer the dispute to the Peshwā for decision.