Millionaire beggar found in city officially declared ‘beggar-free’
PTC Web Desk: A startling case has emerged from Indore, where a man surviving on alms has been found to be the owner of assets worth several lakhs, including multiple houses, vehicles, and rental businesses.
The man, around 50 years old and reportedly suffering from leprosy, was rescued from the Sarafa area following complaints from local residents. Preliminary investigations revealed that despite begging for a living, he owned three permanent houses, a car, and three auto-rickshaws, all of which were rented out.
According to Dinesh Mishra, an official from the Women and Child Development Department, the man was rescued after repeated alerts from the public. “During verification, it came to light that he owns three houses, including a three-storey building,” Mishra said.
Officials further disclosed that the man used to go out begging in a car, for which he had hired a driver. He would beg while seated in a wheelchair and had been active in the area since 2021–22. The inquiry also revealed that he had lent money worth ?4–5 lakh to people in the Sarafa locality on interest and collected daily repayments.
Authorities said his daily income ranged between ?1,000 and ?2,000 from interest alone, while begging fetched him an additional ?400–500 per day.
Indore District Collector Shivam Verma said the city has been declared a “beggar-free city” and that immediate rehabilitation measures are taken whenever a beggar is identified. “Once the investigation is complete, appropriate legal action will be initiated against the individual,” Verma said.
However, activists have urged authorities to view the case with sensitivity. Rupali Jain, president of NGO Pravesh, which works for the rehabilitation of beggars, said the man’s background should not be ignored. “He was earlier employed as a mason. After being diagnosed with leprosy, he could no longer work and was pushed into begging for survival,” she said, calling for a humane approach while handling the matter.
- With inputs from agencies
