The Bhonsale family branch of Raghoji were known as Hinganikar as they were originally chiefs from Berdi near Hingani in Pune District established by Bimbaji Bhonsle.

Raghoji's great-granduncle Rupaji I, great-grandfather Mudhoji and grandfather Bapuji with two brothers Sabaji and Parsoji had fought in the armies of Shivaji.

[5][need quotation to verify] Rupaji I was childless therefore his property also passed over to Raghoji's great-grandfather Mudhoji which gave Hinganikar Bhonsles a foothold in east Maharashtra for future conquests.

On attaining maturity Raghuji served under his uncle Ranoji as a Shiledar (cavalryman) at Amravati, participating in various military operations.

[8][need quotation to verify] His uncle Senasahibsubha Kanhoji Bhonsle based at Bham, sixteen miles south of Yavatmal, invited him to his fief as he was heirless up to that point.

[9][need quotation to verify] Senasahibsubha Kanhoji looked after and mentored Raghuji, who was the son of his cousin Bimbaji, with hopes of gradually passing his duties to him.

[10][full citation needed] Raghuji then left his uncle and travelled with 100 horsemen to offer his services to Gond Kingdom of Devgad, then under rule of Chand Sultan, where he fought for many years and familiarised himself with local politics.

Raghuji's status dramatically escalated when he bravely slew a maneater tiger which threatened Shahu's life during a hunting expedition.

[11] Raghuji's first campaign as Senasahibsubha was to bring his uncle Kanhoji to justice and restore centralization in the eastern provinces for which he was deployed with an army of 30,000 cavalry.

Raghuji's armies roved in all directions exacting the pending Chauth and Sardeshmukhi, which served as return of central authority over the lands.

[11] Bold and decisive in action, Raghuji was the archetype of a Maratha leader; he saw in the troubles of other states an opening for his own ambition, and did not even require a pretext for invasion.

[citation needed] The extension of the Muslim power in the far south had set in motion a Hindu reaction led by Vangaru Tirumala, a member of the Madurai Nayak dynasty and a former rival of queen Minakṣhi and Sayaji Bhonsle, the deposed Maratha ruler of Tanjore who appealed to Chhatrapati Shahu, the most powerful Hindu ruler of the times, for aid.

Soon afterwards took place the Battle of Damalcherry on May 20, 1740, which was a major confrontation between the Nawab of the Carnatic, Dost Ali Khan of Arcot and the Maratha Senasahibsubha Raghuji I Bhonsle of Nagpur.

Raghuji however demanded a high fees for sparing Chanda Sahib who offered only 7 lakhs with a statement threatening to continue the conflict if the terms were rejected.

[19] On the 16th of March 1741, the Marathas finally scaled the walls of the ramparts of Tiruchirappalli fort, surprised the garrison and conquered the Nevayet stronghold.

Chanda Sahib negotiated for peace by offering to pay twelve lakhs of rupees for his safe departure, but the Marathas demanded one crore.

Eventually the talks broke down and the Marathas carried away the Husayn Dost Khan together with his son Abid Ali as prisoner to Berar and then to Satara.

Raghuji Bhonsle appointed Murari Rao Ghorpade as the new ruler at Tiruchirappalli which marked the end of the Nevayets and the culmination of the Maratha campaign.

[20] Raghoji Bhonsle's Diwan Pandit Bhaskar Ram invaded and placed Mohansingh, an illegitimate son of Raghuji, in charge of the States of Raipur, Ratanpur, Bilaspur and Sambalpur in Chhattisgarh before advancing on to Orissa.

Raghoji was able to annex Orissa permanently as he successfully exploited the chaotic conditions prevailing in the region after the death of their Governor Murshid Quli Khan in 1727.