(i) In 1666, Aurangzeb invited Shivaji to Agra, along with his nine-year-old son Sambhaji and a few of his trusted people.

(ii) Aurangzeb’s plan was to send Shivaji to Kandahar, now in Afghanistan, to consolidate the Mughal empire’s north-western frontier.

(iii) However, in the court, on 12th May 1666, Aurangzeb made Shivaji stand behind military commanders of his court.

(iv) Shivaji took offence and stormed out of court, and was promptly placed under house arrest under the watch of Faulad Khan, Kotwal of Agra.

(v) Shivaji pretended severe illness and requested to send most of his group back to the Deccan and conveyed his wish to distribute some sweets to the poor as offerings for getting well.

(vi) Thereafter, on his request, he was allowed to send daily shipments of sweets and gifts to saints, fakirs, and temples in Agra as offerings for his health.

(vii) The Kotwal was requested that the boxes of sweets should be touched by Maharaj himself as a custom and hence all the boxes were strictly checked.

(viii) According to the Mughal documents, after several days and weeks of sending out boxes containing sweets, Shivaji, disguised as labourer carrying sweet basket escaped on 17 August 1666.

(ix) Sambhaji, being a child had no restrictions and was sent out of the prison camp before Shivaji escaped.

(x) After escaping Shivaji and his son fled to the Deccan disguised as sadhus.