Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c52.s6.1

v4.c52.s6.1

Nānā had an ally in the very citadel of his enemy. Sakhārām Ghātgé, surnamed Sharzā Rao, was a Maratha of the sardār family of Kāgal, who had joined Nānā's personal guards as a poor military adventurer, and gained his confidence by his courage, loyalty and unscrupulous resourcefulness. When Nānā Fadnis fled away from Punā (March 1796) Sharzā Rao passed into Daulat Rao Sindhiā’s service, and soon acquired the greatest influence over him, especially by holding out to his new master the bait of marriage with his beautiful young daughter Baizā Bāi, (a marriage which was eventually celebrated on 26th Feb. 1798). He now worked in the interests of Bāji Rao, over whom Sindhiā had placed him as keeper. Through Sharzā Rao, the prisoner opened communications with Nānā at Mahād for being declared as the Peshwā. Nānā agreed and again through Sharzā Rao’s secret insinuations managed to persuade Daulat Rao to arrest and confine both Bālobā Tātyā and Parashurām Bhāu who were then conducting the Government (26th October 1796). Chimnāji Apā was also removed from his throne and placed in detention. Nānā Fadnis returned to Punā and there at a public ceremony (on 26th Nov.) Bāji Rao II was proclaimed as Peshwā, and Nānā Fadnis became outwardly the supreme executive head of the Government again.