Narayanrao Peshwa - Murder of Narayanrao

Murder of Narayanrao

During the Ganesh Festival of 1773 (actual date is 30 August 1773 and it was the last day of Ganesh Festival i.e. Anant Chaturdashi) several Gardi guards, led by their captain, Sumer Singh Gardi, entered the palace and created a commotion. They then charged towards the sleeping Peshwa's chambers, killing a clerk on the way. They intended to release Raghunathrao.Raghunathrao and his wife Anandibai, who were opposed to Narayanrao, promised the Gardis that they would mediate in their dispute with Narayanrao. The Gardis followed narayanrao to his uncle's chamber and a menial pulled him while Sumer singh Gardi cut him down. His corpse was cremated secretly by the river at midnight. Narayanrao was killed in a skirmish as the Gardis tried forcefully to take him.

According to popular legend, Raghunathrao had sent a message to Sumer Singh Gardi to fetch Narayanrao using the Marathi word dharaa (धरा) or 'hold'. This message was intercepted by his wife Anandibai who changed a single letter to make it read as maaraa (मारा) or 'kill'. The miscommunication led to the Gardis killing him in the presence of Raghunathrao.

This act brought ill fame to the Peshwa administration, now being looked after by the minister Nana Phadnavis. The Chief Justice of the administration, Ram Shastri Prabhune was asked to conduct an investigation into the incident, and Raghunathrao, Anandibai and Sumer Singh Gardi were all prosecuted in absentia. Although Raghunathrao was acquitted, Anandibai was declared an offender and Sumer Singh Gardi the culprit. Sumer Singh Gardi died mysteriously at Patna in Bihar in 1775, and Anandibai performed Hindu rituals for washing of sins.