Crorepati beggar: Indore's Mangilal picked up from streets owns three houses, autos, car and also runs a money-lending business

The "Beggar-free Indore" mission was meant to gradually help homeless or extremely poor people leave life on the streets but the Madhya Pradesh government campaign led to a surprising discovery. The campaign led to the discovery of a beggar, identified as Mangilal, who had been secretly minting crores of rupees sitting on an iron cart with ball-bearing wheels. The 'rescued' beggar owns properties and vehicles worth crores of rupees, owns three houses in different parts of the city, and also provides loans to people in need, reports TOI's Sagar Choukse.

Mangilal, a physically disabled man, had been a known face in Indore's landmark Sarafa Bazaar neighbourhood for years, where he had been seen for years receiving money from passers-by. Mangilal told nodal officer Dinesh Mishra that he owns various properties in Indore and is also a beneficiary of a one-BHK house as part of a combined initiative by the state government and the Red Cross. Mangilal owns a three-storey house in Bhagat Singh Nagar, a 600-sq-ft home in Shiv Nagar, and a one-bedroom flat in Alwasa, which he received through the Red Cross Society under the PMAY scheme on the grounds of his disability. He also owns three auto-rickshaws, all of which are rented out, and a Swift Dzire car, with a driver on his payroll.

ALSO READ: Akhilesh Yadav's brother Prateek says he'll divorce his 'selfish' wife Aparna Yadav in Instagram post, claims 'she ruined his family ties'

'Rescued' beggar turns out to be crorepati

Mangilal would never beg, at least not overtly. He would sit in a corner or move around with a backpack, using his hands placed inside a pair of shoes to push himself along. People felt sorry for him and often gave him cash, which could add up to ₹500-1000 every day. But his truth came out when a rescue team from Madhya Pradesh's women and child development department picked Mangilal up recently and told him he would be rehabilitated, the TOI report said.

Apart from renting out cars and autos, Mangilal puts the money he receives in a high-interest money-lending operation focused on small jewellery businesses in Sarafa Bazaar from which he collects daily or weekly interest from those he lends money to. "He has given us an idea of how much money he has, but we are still to arrive at the exact figure. We are probing all his sources of income and properties in his name," Mishra was quoted as saying by TOI. Authorities said charging high interest is illegal and will be examined closely.

ALSO READ: 'Yuvraj kept pleading for help': Noida techie clung on to car's roof till last breath, dialled his father, shared his location but still couldn't be saved

The officials have compiled a list of Mangilal’s bank accounts, income sources, and property records to calculate how much money he actually owns. The report said that Mangilal will be produced before the district collector to answer for obtaining a PMAY house despite owning property. District Program Officer Rajnish Sinha said that the state administration will continue with strict measures, and the people who either promote or engage in begging will face strict action.

Sinha confirmed that Mangilal owns what he described as “significant property.” “He is also involved in usury, which is a crime. Action will be taken against those who promote begging,” he said. Mangilal currently lives with his parents in the Alwasa flat, while his two brothers live separately. Officials said the Indore anti-begging campaign has so far identified thousands of people living on the streets and helped many of them find work, shelter, or schooling for their children.

(With TOI inputs)