I don’t beg, claims Indore’s millionaire beggar:Mahakal says on Bhaskar’s camera, ‘I built property by lending money on interest’

I go to Sarafa at night, not to beg, but to collect money from people I have lent to. I sit on a dragging vehicle. During this time, many people see my condition and feel pity, putting money in my pocket. I refuse, but they don’t listen. This is what Mangilal has to offfer, who was caught begging in Sarafa Bazaar on January 17 by Indore’s Women and Child Development Department team. When officers interrogated him, they discovered that he owns three houses in Indore. He also owns a car and three auto-rickshaws. Officers had claimed that he acquired all this property through begging. When Bhaskar spoke to Mangilal, he said that he earned all this money by lending money to people on interest. He also shared his business model with Bhaskar. He also revealed that his real name is Mahakal, but due to his habit of always asking for money, friends named him Mangilal. Currently, how did Mangilal build his wealth? The administration is investigating this matter. He has been kept at Sevadhaam Ashram in Ujjain. Bhaskar reached there and talked to Mangilal. Read the report… I don’t beg, people give money out of sympathy
When Bhaskar’s team talked to Mangilal at Sevadhaam Ashram, he completely rejected the administration’s claims. He said, I don’t beg. My real name is Mahakal. When the Simhasth fair was held in Ujjain in 1956, my father came here and I was born, that’s why I was named Mahakal. Friends started calling me Mangilal. Some people also say that I keep asking everyone for money, that’s why I got the name Mangilal. When Mangilal was asked if he was caught begging, he said – I have three houses, one of which was given by the government. I have one car and three autos, which I rent out. After 10 PM, I go to the jewelry market, not to beg, but to collect money from those people whom I have given loans. My three-wheeler cannot go inside the market, so I go there in my car and then reach my debtors sitting on a sliding cart. Journey from Khargone to Indore and start of business
Originally from Khargone, Mangilal came to Indore at just 12 years of age. Initially, he worked delivering jute bags (bardana) to traders, from which he would earn some commission money. Looking at his physical condition, people would give him money from the beginning. From here, Mangilal made people’s sympathy a part of his business. Some time ago when the then Collector banned begging in Indore, even then Mangilal’s work continued. He claims that he never directly begged, but admits that seeing his condition, people would help him on their own. Mangilal’s money making business model
Mangilal says that he has multiple sources of income. From these, he earns Rs 50,000 to 60,000 per month. Since expenses are not high, he saves money which he lends on interest. Additionally, he owns a car and three auto-rickshaws. He rents out each auto for Rs 300 per day, which brings him approximately Rs 27,000 per month. He also earns good money by renting out his car for bookings. Mangilal says that he works as a small travel agent too. When someone needs a vehicle, he provides vehicles on commission. He has rented out a house in the city which generates an income of Rs 16,000 to 18,000 every month. He said, “My biggest business is lending money on interest. I have lent about 4 lakh rupees in the market. Instead of giving large loans, I help poor and needy people who take money from me in the morning and return it in the evening with principal and interest. For example, if someone wants to set up a handkerchief, glasses and towel shop in Rajwada, I lend them small amounts like 1,000 to Rs 2,000.” 100-year-old mother, relationship with daughter broken
Mangilal has a daughter, but she doesn’t accept him as her father. According to Mangilal, I was married long ago, but after some time my wife left. She got married again. My daughter is also married, but she doesn’t consider me her father. I tried to bring my daughter back, spent money in the panchayat too, but she clearly said, ‘I don’t consider you my father.’ Now I have also given up hope. Mangilal says that there is a mother at home, who is about 100 years old. A nephew also lives with them, who cooks food for both of them and takes care of them. Neither I can cook, nor can mother. The nephew handles everything. Will donate property, will get girls married
Mangilal also talks about future plans regarding his property. He says, “I don’t have anyone before or after me. I want that no one’s education should stop due to lack of money.” He claims that he bears the education expenses of some needy girls he knows. “They had to pay their fees now, so I got it done. Officers are saying that I have property worth crores, but that’s not true. Whatever I have, I will donate it to the ashram so that poor girls can get married and live their lives with dignity. Administration put him on 1.5 month surveillance and arrested
Officials of the Women and Child Development Department had been receiving information about Mangilal for quite some time. A team led by Rescue Nodal Officer Dinesh Mishra had been keeping an eye on him for the past one and a half months. However, Mangilal was only active in the Sarafa market at night, which made it difficult to catch him. The team changed their strategy and focused on him during the night. On the night of January 17, Mangilal got out of his car and went to the market sitting on his wheeled cart. Officials kept an eye on him. As soon as some people gave him money, the team caught him and made him sit in the car. Dinesh Mishra said, “The investigation is still ongoing. So far, information about three houses, one car and three autos has come to light. We are trying to find out how he built this property?”