Akbar's aunt, Maham Anga, one of Bairam’s most serious opponents, is chief nurse and mother of his foster brother, Adham Khan, who is both shrewd and manipulative and hopes to rule by proxy through her son.

The pair urges Akbar in March 1560 to visit them in Delhi, leaving Bairam in the capital, Agra.

While in Delhi, Akbar is deluged by people who insist that he is now ready to take full control of the empire and to dismiss Bairam.

He is persuaded to fund an excursion for Bairam to go on Hajj to Mecca; this is a thinly disguised form of ostracism.

Bairam, shocked at the news from Delhi, is loyal to Akbar, and despite Akbar’s refusal to even meet with the General, refuses the suggestions by some of his commanders to march on Delhi and "rescue" Akbar.

Bairam departs for Mecca, but is soon met by an army sent by Adham Khan, approved by Akbar and sent to "escort" the regent from the Mughal territories.

His patience gone, Bairam leads an attack on the army but is captured and sent to Akbar as a rebel to be sentenced.

Maham Anga urges Akbar to execute Bairam, but Akbar refuses, instead according full honors to the general, giving him robes of honor, and agreeing to fund a proper Hajj excursion.