When Ratanji meets Sai Baba, the text refers to him as 'Maharaj'. Is this a reference to Gajanan Maharaj?

No, the reference to "Maharaj" in this context is not about Gajanan Maharaj. Within the narrative of Chapter 14, the title "Maharaj" is used interchangeably with "Baba" and "Sai" to refer to Sai Baba of Shirdi. The sequence of events makes this clear: Das Ganu advises Ratanji to visit Sai Baba in Shirdi. Ratanji then travels to Shirdi and goes to the Masjid for darshan. The text states, "Seeing Maharaj, the heap of merit, love surged within him," and in the very next line, it says he "placed it around Baba's neck with love." The entire episode, including the discussion about Dakshina, revolves around Ratanji's interaction with the saint of Shirdi. Therefore, "Maharaj" is used here as a respectful title for Sai Baba, not as a reference to a different saint like Gajanan Maharaj.