In 1720 farmers rose in revolt under the leadership of Balram Singh (Ballu Jat) when during the reign of Muhammad Shah (r. 1719–1748), Mughal officer of Faridabad Murtaza Khan started to impose heavy taxes while famine was raging. Murtaza Khan had in the past also imprisoned Balram's father. Balram killed Murtaza Khan at Faridabad and shut the Mughal traffic on Delhi–Agra route. In 1739, Mughal king bestowed on him titles of "Rao" and "Naib Bakshi". He built the Nahar Singh fort and founded the city of Ballabhgarh is named after him.Jats along the Delhi–Agra route at that time were in revolt against the oppressive Mughal rule. Tewatias of this area had already established themselves as counter force in this area. Balram Jat held the surrounding country as a feudatory of Suraj Mal of Bharatpur (r. 1755–1763). He was the brother-in-law of Maharaja Suraj Mal and mama of Jawahar Singh. Balram Singh often called Ballu by the local people moved on a few Elephants, Horses and Camels loaded with Big drums (Nagaade) and Dhaunse (big band) followed by his local army. Went wherever Ballu with this band, it was assumed that area was no longer of Mughals and Ballu had won that. It was a kind of Aswamedh Yagna that he performed. Here from started a saying "Dheeng Dheeng Ballu ka Raj". Immediately peace returned to those areas, which were won over by Ballu.