He was elder son of Nawab Sayyid Ghulam Muhammad Ali Khan I Bahadur, Jagirdar of Banganapalle, by his first wife, Najib un-nisa Begum Sahiba, only daughter of Nawab Sayyid Asad 'Ali Khan Bahadur, Jagirdar of Chenchelimala.
Several attempts by the government to introduce reforms proved fruitless, until exasperation resulted in his deposition in 1832.
The government annexed Banganapalle to the Madras Presidency and the Nawab retired to Hyderabad on a pension.
Finally the financial and administrative reforms having restored the state to solvency, the Governor of Madras-in-Council decided to return Banganapalle to him on 12 July 1848.
He was succeeded in turn by his son-in-law and nephew, Nawab Sayyid Ghulam Muhammad Ali Khan II Bahadur.