Anirudh was born to
Hindupat Singh and his first wife. Although he was his father's second son, his father had superseded his eldest son, Sarnet Singh, in the right to succeed him and appointed him as the heir to the throne of
Panna. Owing to his minority, the administration of state affairs was entrusted to
Beni Singh and Khemraj Chaube. When Colonel Leslie and his army, sent by
Warren Hastings to support
Raghoba Dada's claim as the
Peshwa of the
Maratha Confederacy, entered
Bundelkhand in 1778, Anirudh opposed them and resisted their advance. Both of his regents were ambitious and their rivalry led the state into civil war. Khemraj took up arms for Sarnet and fought against
Beni, who was advancing Anirudh's case near
Chitrakoot. In this battle, Khemraj was victorious. However, when Anirudh died in 1779, they both reconciled and installed his younger brother,
Dhokal Singh, as the
Raja of
Panna. ==References==