The ruler of which one of the following States was removed from power by the British on the pretext of misgovernance?

The British deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah and annexed Awadh in 1856 on the pretext of misgovernance; Lord Dalhousie carried out the annexation as part of his expansionist policy and specifically removed the ruler of Awadh claiming maladministration [1]. Residents’ inspections — notably by Sleeman and later Outram — produced reports of alleged anarchy, and despite Dalhousie’s initial reluctance the Court of Directors directed annexation and abolition of the throne in 1856 [2]. The forcible dethronement and exile of Wajid Ali Shah to Calcutta exemplify the use of misgovernment as the formal justification for British annexation of Awadh, provoking widespread resentment that contributed to the 1857 uprising [3].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Annexed Lapsed States > p. 125
2. [2] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 5: Expansion and Consolidation of British Power in India > Annexation of Awadh > p. 124
3. [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART III, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: REBELS AND THE RAJ > 2.2 "The life was gone out of the body" > p. 266