Shivaji and Sambhaji execute a daring escape from house arrest in Agra

In May 1666, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj accompanied by his nine-year-old son, Prince Sambhaji, arrived at Agra to attend the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The visit was arranged under the Treaty of Purandar signed with Rajput commander Mirza Raja Jai Singh. However, at the imperial court, Shivaji felt deeply insulted by Aurangzeb’s public slights, including being made to stand behind lower-ranked commanders (*mansabdars* of 5,000 rank). When Shivaji voiced his indignation, Aurangzeb placed Shivaji, Sambhaji, and their retinue under strict house arrest at the Jaipur Bhavan in Agra, surrounding their quarters with armed guards supervised by Kotwal Fulad Khan.

Fearing imminent execution or exile to the hostile northern frontier of Kabul, Shivaji devised a meticulous and daring plan of escape. Recognizing that outright military force was impossible against imperial forces in the heart of Agra, Shivaji feigned severe illness and requested permission to send daily offerings of sweets, fruits, and alms to Brahmins, holy men, and nobles across the city to pray for his recovery. For weeks, giant bamboo baskets filled with delicacies were carried past the Mughal guards without incident. Over time, the guards grew accustomed to the routine, relaxing their vigilance and stopping their thorough inspections of the departing containers.

On August 17, 1666, Shivaji and young Sambhaji put their plan into action. Hiding inside the large covered baskets carried by loyal attendants, father and son passed through the inner security perimeters undetected. To delay discovery, Shivaji's half-brother or trusted lookalike, Heroji Farjand, lay in Shivaji's bed wearing the King's royal ring and covering his body with blankets, while loyal attendant Madari Mehtar massaged his feet to give the illusion that the ruler was sleeping off an illness. By the time Fulad Khan's guards realized the bed was occupied by an impostor the next day, Shivaji and Sambhaji had already ridden miles away from Agra.

The immediate consequence was widespread hysteria in the Mughal court. Aurangzeb was infuriated by the breach of security and launched an aggressive manhunt across Northern India. In the long term, this escape proved to be one of the greatest strategic triumphs in Maratha history. It shattered the aura of Mughal absolute control, saved the young crown prince who would succeed Shivaji, and allowed the Maratha liberation movement to resume with renewed vigor, ultimately reshaping the political map of South Asia.