It was led by Peshwa Baji Rao I.
Explanation
The Maratha raid on Delhi in 1737 was a strategic military expedition undertaken during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. It was designed to demonstrate the expanding reach of the Maratha Empire and to enforce demands for Chauth and Sardeshmukhi rights in Malwa and Bundelkhand.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement It was led by Peshwa Baji Rao I.: Correct. The raid was personally led by Peshwa Baji Rao I. In a lightning cavalry maneuver, he bypassed the main Mughal army led by the Wazir and appeared at the gates of Delhi (Talkatora) to panic the Mughal court.
- Statement It resulted in the permanent occupation of Delhi.: Incorrect. The Marathas did not occupy Delhi permanently during this campaign. Baji Rao I stayed near Delhi for only a brief period (about three days) to assert dominance and then retreated to the Deccan to avoid being trapped by converging Mughal armies.
- Statement It was undertaken in alliance with the Rohillas.: Incorrect. The raid was not undertaken in alliance with the Rohillas. The Rohillas were independent Afghan settlers in the Doab region who were often in conflict with the Marathas and the Awadh Nawabs.
- Statement It occurred after the Third Battle of Panipat.: Incorrect. The raid occurred in 1737. The Third Battle of Panipat took place much later, in 1761, between the Marathas (under Sadashivrao Bhau) and Ahmad Shah Abdali.
Key Takeaway:
Peshwa Baji Rao I's raid on Delhi in 1737 exposed the military vulnerability of the Later Mughal state and cemented Maratha supremacy in North Indian politics prior to the invasion of Nadir Shah (1739).