Tantya for tired escaping time and again. He normally used to stay in jungles. Extremely desperate Tantya reached in the forests of Padaun.
At last he decided to stay in forest under protection of his friend Man Singh. In those days Man Singh also was hidden in forests of Padaun fearing of the British. When Tantya met Man Singh he said, “You have not done well turning your back upon the army.”
In response Tantya said, “I have tired escaping since long. I did wrong or right, but now I shall stay with you.”
British officers realised that army strength cann’t be successful to suppress Tantya. At this time Robert Napier was the commander of Central India army. He was smart and competent commander. He decided to apply other measures to defeat Tantya as a final melee.
Rightly then he acquired information that after defeat in battle field Tantya is hiding himself in forests of Padaun. He desired to capture him alive. To fulfil this desire he started to mend a plan. Napier knew it well that to arrest a person like Tantya is not a child’s play. Without the assistance of his some confidential person it is even not possible reaching near him. At last he found a person which was too near and confidential to Tantya.
That person was—Man Singh.
At that time Man Singh was also hidden in forests of Padaun. He was powerless. Forests of Padaun were the parts of estate of king Man Singh. His subjects were loyal to him so it was impossible to gain support from those people against Man Singh or Tantya.
Napier ask his cavalry officer Mid to talk to Man Singh. Mid was a clever and ingenious person. Now Mid started to cast his net. Firstly he incorporated Pindaryan leader Narayan Singh in his favour. He was an influenced person of that region. Mid made him understand that it is in welfare of king Man Singh to surrender. Narayan Singh arranged a meeting of Mid with Deewan of Man singh, Kishori Lal and Commander Parbhu Dayal of Shivpuri. Mid talked with them in an atmosphere of friendship and alliance and assured that by Man Singh surrender not only his life will be safe guarded he will be awarded reasonable pension. In addition Mid sent a letter to his relatives too.
Later on he arrested women folk of Man Singh’s family by help of these people. Now he was sure that there is no alternative left for Man Singh except to surrender. And in reality Man Singh at once talk to Tantya. After it Man Singh made a plan to surrender.
Man Singh was the protector and harbourer of Tantya in the forests of Padaun. Now Tantya’s arrest had become prevalent. So, Mid started tempting Man Singh. To regain his lost prestige Man Singh agreed to get him arrested.
Mid was working very cautiously. His aim was to arrest Tantya Tope.
But it was not easy for British to arrest Tantya.
Tantya’s spies used to roam in British cants. News of each movement was available to Tantya and British even new that. Consequently they made a secret plan to arrest Tantya. Man Singh too emphasized on this scheme that arrangements of Tantya’s arrest should be entrusted to him. It was done accordingly and Mid sent some Indian soldiers with him. They were told that towards which person Man Singh points out would be arrested.
On fixed day Man Singh reached to see Tantya. Man Singh already ordered the soldiers to hide themselves in a ditch. Tantya and Man Singh generally used to hide at the same place where soldiers were hidden now.
Man Singh talked with Tantya till mid night, then Tantya went to bed. Man Singh signalled his soldiers. Soldiers arrested Tantya. Man Singh himself tied his hands. Two other companions of Tantya were escaped in the over of darleness.
That black day was April 7, 1859. The things that recovered from him was a horse, a sword, a dagger and three golden rings.
