Although Akbar had taken over the reins of the empire from Bairam Khan and latter was no more in the world yet he was not in full control of the situation. There were several other influences that were handicapping him. Maham Anaga had very cleverly removed Bairam Khan from the scene and increased her influence on Akbar. She persuaded the emperor to battle for Malwa under the command of her son Adham Khan. Although Akbar agreed yet he wisely decided not to yield completely. He organised a task force and Adham Khan was made chief commander as Maham Anaga had wished. Peer Mohammad Shirvani was appointed his assistant. Adham Khan was the chief commander but his assistant Shirvani was the real decision maker. Akbar knew that Adham Khan was a corrupt and incompetent person who did not deserve responsible charge but the emperor had to respect the sentiments of his milk-mother.
In 1561, near Sarangpur the battle of Malwa was fought in which the defending ruler Baz Bahadur had instructed his confidants that in case of his defeat his begums were to be slain before falling into the enemy hands. The soldiers tried to carry out his orders but they could not succeed.
Meanwhile, by order of Adahm Khan, a reign of loot, plunder and massacre was let loose in the vanquished Malwa. The news anguished Akbar. He rushed to Malwa to control the situation and bring back sanity.
Learning about the departure of Akbar, Maham Anaga dispatched a fast messenger to Malwa to alert her son about the impending arrival of the emperor. But Akbar reached Malwa before the messenger. Adham Khan was shocked to see Akbar before him in midst of his shameful revelries.
Akbar saw with his own eyes the misdeeds of his so called chief commander Adham Khan. In the eyes of Akbar he had fallen irrietrevably. Akbar took reins in his own hands. He stayed in Malwa for a month, set things right and returned to Agra with the spare forces.
At Agra some information reached to the emperor from Jaunpur. Akbar was then 19 years old but he had an wise and farsighted head on his young shoulders. Khanzama Alikuli was the governor of the empire at Jaunpur. He was one of the Turani brothers who were greatly trusted by Babar and Humayun too. They always held high posts. Akbar had received secret report that the brothers Khanzama and Bahadur Khan had been nursing dreams of becoming independent rulers. When Akbar learnt about it he set out to Jaunpur on the pretext of a hunting trip.
When Khanzama and Bahadur Khan learnt about the visit of Akbar they panicked. As the two were weighted down by a guilty feeling they raced to receive Akbar with loads of precious gifts. They met Akbar at Kada, a place near Allahabad and presented the gifts. Akbar accepted the gifts. Thus, the dream of independence of Turani brothers ended up in smoke.
Akbar returned to Agra from the very place.
Maham Anaga wished to continue to hold her sway on Akbar. Infact, she used to act like self appointed prime minister of Moghul empire inspite of the misdeeds of her son.
At the end of the year 1561 Shamsuddin Mohammad Khan Ataga arrived at Agra from Kabul. Emperor Akbar appointed him the minister of political affairs, finance and army departments. It didn’t go down well with Maham Anaga. It was natural because she thought she was the overall incharge of the empire. The departments apportioned to Ataga were infact being overseen by her. Indirectly the departments had been taken away from her. But what could she do?
Akbar called back her son Adham Khan from Malva and gave the charge of that state to Peer Mohammad Shirvani.
It was another blow to Maham Anaga.
Peer Shirvani later attacked Burhanpur and Vijaygarh and took them under his control. Although he had no instructions on Baz Bahadur from Akbar yet he on his own started to sniff out the ex-ruler. One day while chasing Baz Bahadur his horse collided with camels as he was crossing the river Narmada. Peer Mohammad Shirvani died of drowning. It gave Baz Bahadur an opportunity and he was again in control of Malwa. But soon after he lost it.
