Historians hostile to Shivaji have seized on this incident to accuse Shivaji of premeditated assassination. There is no proof of this. Shivaji certainly intended to annex More’s dominions, and he could have done this without resorting to an unnecessary act of treachery; and few men were less vindictive than Shivaji. Probably the best refutation of this charge is to be found in the subsequent attitude of More’s steward, Baji Prabhu. This man, noted for his integrity, surrendered to Shivaji, and became his devoted adherent,
