Zabita Khan

Who is Zabita Khan?

Zabita Khan Rohilla was Rohilla chieftain in the time of the Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II. He was the son of the Rohilla Sardar Najib-ud-Daula, who founded the city of Najibabad. Zabita Khan is also known to have fought alongside his father during the Battle of Panipat in 1761. After the death of his father on 30 October 1770, Zabita took over. During his rule, the Marathas captured, first Delhi in 1771 and then Rohilkhand in 1772, forcing him to flee to the camp of the Nawab of Awadh, Shuja-ud-Daula.

Zabita Khan was accused by Mirza Najaf Khan of high treason after allying himself with the Sikhs in order to become the official Mir Bakshi of the Mughal Empire; his son Abdul Qadir Khan Rohilla was also accused of betrayal. After the Rohilla War of 1773-4, his territory was annexed into the Mughal Empire.