When Safdar Jang was appointed chief minister by Ahmad Sháh, the districts which, according to the established custom, comprised the jágír of a minister, were also granted to him. Farídábád, which is twelve kos distance from Sháh-Jahánábád, had been formerly a part of this jágír; but since the time of the late minister, I'timádu-d daula, Balrám, a near relation of Súraj Mal Ját, having put the officers of the minister to death, had made himself master of this district, and gave him only what he liked out of its revenues. The magnanimous spirit of Safdar Jang could not brook this usage, and he demanded in strong terms the surrender of the district by Súraj Mal Ját and Balrám; but they still retained it, and answered him evasively.
At last, in A.H. 1160 (1747 A.D.), he marched to Dehlí to punish them for their delay, and soon recovered Farídábád from Balrám. Having pitched his tents there, he also demanded that Súraj Mal should resign all the places which belonged to the Emperor; but the Ját chief, on receiving this demand, began to fortify his posts of Díg, Kumbher and other places with strong garrisons, guns, and all the munitions of war, and having prepared himself for an engagement, addressed the minister sometimes with promises of surrender and sometimes with threats of vengeance.
In 1162 A.H. (1749 A.D.), when Safdar Jang was endeavouring to recover possession of the districts which belonged to the Emperor, a misunderstanding arose between Káim Khán, etc., the sons of Muhammad Bangash Afghán, and Sa'du-llah Khán and other sons of 'Alí Muhammad Khán Rohilla; and the two parties, the Afgháns and the Rohillas, went so far in their animosity towards each other that they both had recourse to arms. Many battles took place between them, and at last the contest ended in the destruction of Káim Khán, the eldest son of Muhammad Khán Bangash. The Afgháns, after the death of their chief, took to flight; and the Rohillas returned victorious to their homes.
When the news of Káim Khán's death became known, Safdar Jang left the matter with Súraj Mal Ját unsettled, and immediately came to Dehlí. With the permission of the Emperor, he soon marched to Farrukhábád, the residence of Káim Khán, and confiscated all the property of the Afgháns, leaving only a few villages sufficient for the maintenance of Ahmad Khán and the other sons and relatives of Muhammad Khán. He placed the estates of the Afgháns under the management of Rája Nuwul Ráí, who acted as the Nawáb's deputy in the governorship of the province of Oudh and Alláhábád, and himself returned to Dehlí.
Ja'far 'Alí Khán, who had joined with the English, put Siráju-d daula, his sister's son, who governed Murshidábád, to death, and himself became governor of the province. Kásim 'Alí Khán, who was one of his near relations, acquired great strength, and collected a large force on the strength of his connexion with the governor. Míran, son of Ja'far 'Alí Khán, became deputy of his father, and, having assembled a large army, engaged in managing the affairs of the provinces. He resolved on punishing Khádim Husain Khán, governor of Púraniya, who refused submission to Ja'far 'Alí Khán. Having marched from Maksúdábád, he reached the banks of the river which flows on the other side of Púraniya, and pitched his tents there. After a bridge of boats was made, Míran determined to cross the river next morning, and make a sudden attack upon Khádim Husain Khán. As he had collected a very large army, and was himself exceedingly bold and enterprising, Khádim Husain Khán was greatly alarmed, and prepared to escape during the night, leaving the city of Púraniya to the invader. But, accidentally, about the middle of the night, Míran, who was sleeping in his tent, was struck dead by lightning. When his army was left without a leader, many fled away for fear of Khádim Husain Khán, and the rest, with the camp, returned to Ja'far 'Alí Khán at Murshidábád. It is said that Míran was very generous. One day [having had no occasion to bestow alms] he said, “Some evil is about to befall me,” and the same night he was struck by lightning and died.
Ja'far 'Alí Khán, after Míran's death, became weak and embarrassed. Kásim 'Alí Khán, his son-in-law, who through his kindness had been enabled to obtain power, and collect an army, joined with the English, and having invited them from Calcutta, took Ja'far 'Alí Khán prisoner. The English made Kásim 'Alí Khán governor of Bengal and 'Azímábád Patna, instead of Ja'far 'Alí Khán in 1170 A.H.
His Majesty, the asylum of the world, Sháh 'Álam Bádsháh, having subdued the Deputy Súbadár of the province of 'Azímábád, and taken a contribution from him, returned to the province of Oudh, which belonged to Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula. The Nawáb advanced to receive him with honour. The Emperor, accompanied by him, went towards Jhánsí and the fort of Kálinjar, which were very strong places, and in the possession of the Bundela Rájas and Mahrattas. Shujá'u-d daula with his army went as far as Mahobá, which is near the fort of Kálinjar, and overran the country. The Rája of Kálinjar was obliged to pay him a contribution and also to promise an annual tribute.
The districts of Jhánsí, Kálpí, etc., which belonged to the Bundelas and others, were after many battles and struggles taken from them, and annexed to the dominions of the Emperor and Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula. * * Afterwards they crossed the Ganges, and proceeded to Mahdí-ghát, where they encamped in 1177 A.H. (1763 A.D.).
When Kásim 'Alí Khán, Governor of the province of Bengal, Maksúdábád and 'Azímábád Patna, having fled from the English, reached the vicinity of Benares, which belonged to Shujá'u-d daula, Sháh 'Álam and the Nawáb were encamped on the banks of the Jumna, at the ghát of Bíbípúr, within the boundary of Karra, to settle terms about the fort of Kálinjar, and correspondence was going on about the matter with Rája Hindúpat. At that place a petition was received by the Emperor and a letter by the Nawáb from Kásim 'Alí Khán, soliciting an interview, and requesting assistance, with promises of remuneration. Satisfactory replies were sent on the part of the Emperor and the Nawáb. Kásim 'Alí Khán therefore left Benares, and when he arrived at the ghát of Bíbípúr, pitched his tents near the royal camp.
After an interview with the Emperor and Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula, he presented them with a large donation in cash, valuables and curiosities, and derived encouragement and consolation from them. But as in those days a question was under dispute with Rája Hindúpat, the Emperor and the Nawáb could not attend to any other matter till that was settled. Kásim 'Alí Khán, seeing that the Rája would not come to amicable terms, and that the Emperor and the Nawáb could not go to 'Azímábád and Bengal until the dispute was adjusted, offered his mediation, and after an interview with the Rája, settled the question. A part of the contribution money, which the Rája had become liable to pay, was realized, and for the remainder Kásim 'Alí Khán became surety. After this, he entreated the Emperor and the Nawáb for assistance, and represented his desperate circumstances to them. He also promised to pay monthly all the expenses of their armies, till such time as he might obtain victory over the English, and reinstate himself in the provinces of Bengal and 'Azímábád.