He was deposed by the machinations of Hafiz Rehmat Khan and replaced with his younger brother, Nawab Saadullah.

He remained until 1752 under the authority of the Afghans and was eventually released by Ahmed Shah Abidali.

[citation needed] On his deathbed, his father Ali Mohammad Khan Rohilla made his ministers swear oaths on the Quran to respect his will and to act as protectors of his children until they reached maturity.

In 1754 they orchestrated an argument within the royal family and used it as a pretext to usurp the power and wealth of the orphans.

[citation needed] They were invited back and Abdullah Khan was made the Nawab of Badaun, however his prior experiences and continued mistreatment by Hafiz Rehmat Khan led him to adopt a life of religious asceticism.