The aim of this book is to show the length to which high officers of the East India Company would go to cover up malfeasance resulting from a failure to obey the orders of their superiors. The Council of Bombay was categorically instructed to inform the Raja of Sattara that his claim to certain lands was upheld. The Raja sent an agent to London to try to find out why he had not received a reply to his application. Apparently fearing that the truth would come out, the Bombay Council informed the directors of the company, without any foundation, that the Raja was suspected of suborning the native troops and holding treasonous correspondence with the Portuguese and that his agent should not be allowed to be heard by the company’s officers. The Governor and Council of Bombay tried the Raja in his absence and found him guilty and ultimately deposed him, appointing his brother in his stead, but taking the lands in question into the Presidency of Bombay. They had only to wait seven years until the new Raja died without issue and then took over the entire state.
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