[5] Dhian had spread rumor that the hedonistic emperor intended to sell out the sovereignty of the Sikh empire to the British East India Company.

Dhian then installed the emperor's son Nau Nihal Singh, aged eighteen, to the throne.

Thirteen months later, emperor Nau Nihal, died suddenly on 5 November 1840, on the day of his father's funeral.

[6] After leaving the funeral pyre, Nau Nihal was knocked unconscious when a stone gate at Lahore Fort collapsed upon him.

[8][better source needed] American colonel Alexander Gardner, who was with Nau Nihal when he was injured, noted that five artillery men carried the emperor into the fort under the orders of Dhian.

This followed the 9 March Treaty of Lahore and ultimately led up to the British East India Company gaining sovereignty over the Sikh empire.