In 1736, Bajirao visited Rajputana. On the behalf of Bajirao, Jai Singh of Jaipur requested the Mughal court to appoint Bajirao as the governor of Malwa. Bajirao had also demanded that holy places like Mathura, Gaya, Allahabad, and Kashi should be given to him. The Mughal court refused such demands. Baji Rao then decided to march on Delhi as a show of force.
Baji Rao first marched into Malwa and destroyed all remaining Mughal forces there (Baji Rao had already conquered most of Malwa in 1732–34)
By rapid marches he arrived in Malwa and effected a junction at Bhilsa with the troops which had been quartered in the province for the monsoon. Except for the strongholds of the Rohilla Chief, the province had for all practical purposes become a Maratha principality. This island of opposition to Maratha influence could no longer be suffered to remain. The Peshwa therefore directed his arms against the refractory Yar Muhammad Rohilia, invested him in Bhopal and forced him to pay a contribution of five lakhs of rupees (December 1736). Bhilsa was next attacked and carried after a week's fighting (13th Jan 1737).’ The province of Malwa thus completely subdued could no longer be used to support the huge hordes the Peshwa was leading.
- Page 130, Peshwa Bajirao I and Maratha expansion.
Baji Rao then subdued various bundela chiefs who opposed him. Meanwhile Saadat Khan of Awadh defeated a force led by Malhar rao holkar. Saadat Khan boasted about his victory at the Mughal court. Hearing about this, Baji Rao decided to directly march on Delhi to show his real power.
Bajirao arrives in Delhi
Sending away his heavy baggage and other impedirnents to Bundelkhand he made a dash on the capital so switily and secretly, that none of the Mughal Commanders were aware of his whereabouts till he was actually in the vicinity of the Capital. Avoiding the direct Delhi Agra highway, the Peshwa followed an unfrequented route through the hilly country Of the Jats and Mewatis and appeared before the Capital on 29th March, 1737.
- Page 133–134, Peshwa Bajirao I and Maratha expansion.
The Marathas plundered the outskirts of Delhi causing great panic in the city
An immense booty was made here, and the Marhattas having passed the night near Khwaja Qutubuddin’s monument, the next day, which was Arafat day, they plundered the street inhabited with jewellers, and sacked and burned all the shops of that town. About noon they proceeded farther, and sacked the town of Palam, from whence the shoals of runaways and wounded flying into the city, filled it with dreadful accounts of what they had seenand felt; and the citizens, without further enquiry, lost both their courage and their senses, filled the city with uproar, and the whole soon became one continuous scene of dismay and confusion.
- Page 417, The Era of Bajirao.
A Mughal army tried to attack Baji Rao but was defeated
The younger elements in the Mughal contingent led by the fiery Mir Hasan Khan Koka, agitated for quick attack on the Marathas. As a result a contingent of 7 to 8 thousand troops led by Mir Hasan Khan ventured out and was drawn deep into the Maratha camp where the Peshwa’s soldiers led by Holkar, Sindia and Pawar inflicted a crush ing defeat on the Mughals.
- Page 99, Baji Rao I The Great Peshwa.
Baji Rao however did not attack the city and instead withdrew
The fair capital of the Mughals, the ancient city of Delhi, now awaited to be sacked and despoiled of its splendour and wealth by its new conqueror. But the Peshwa was not a barbarian cast in the mould of an Atilla or a Chengis Khan. He had made a dash on the capital not to lay it under sword and fire, but to enforce on the Mughal Government tbe policy of concessions advocated by Jai Singh and Khan Dauran and favoured by the Emperor personally. The Peshwa rightly imagined that his mere appearance at the gates of the capital would force the hands of the Emperor. On 31at March he disappeared as suddenly as he had appeared two days eariler.
- Pages 135–136, Peshwa Bajirao I and Maratha expansion.
On the way back Baji Rao had a brief skirmish with the forces of Mughal Vizier.
In evening after the Marathas had marched a distance of 10 miles they sighted near Badshahpur the Vazir’s army. After a long and tiring march following a heavy engagement, the Peshwa was in no mood to attack the Vazir. Neither could the Vazir array his forces for battle, as his artillery and a part of his men were yet on the road. There was a brush between the two forces in the failing light of the day; one elephant and a few horses were seized by the Marathas and then they moved another eight miles before encamping for the night.
- Page 136, Peshwa Bajirao I and Maratha expansion.
Avoiding any further Mughal army, Bajirao returned
In fact an advance party of the Mughals saw Baji Rao and Mastani “seated on the saddle cover, drinking and singing while they rested.” Now the Peshwa had to retreat as quickly as possible as a combination of the Mughal forces would prove disastrous to the Marathas. Passing through Rajputana he reached Narnol and then Ajmer. The Mughals could not pursue the Marathas and the Emperor had recalled them to Delhi. The Rajput princes once again affirmed their loyalty to the Peshwa and solicited his protection.
- Page 104, Bajirao the great Peshwa.
Bajirao's lighting speed raid on Delhi humbled the Mughal government and demoralised the army and citizens of Delhi.
