Anti-beggary drive exposes Indore’s millionaire ‘beggar’:Lends money on interest in Sarafa market; owns multiple houses and cars

A man who spent years begging in Indore’s busy Sarafa Bazaar has been found to be the owner of property worth crores, officials said on Monday. The truth came out after the Women and Child Development Department rescued Mangilal during a special drive to stop beggary in the city. He has now been sent to Sevadham Ashram in Ujjain, while the administration has started checking his property papers and bank accounts. Officials said Mangilal used to stand quietly in the narrow lanes of Sarafa with a wooden cart, a bag on his back and shoes in his hand. He did not ask for money, but people gave him cash out of sympathy. During questioning, he told officials that he earned around Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 every day. The administration will also question Sarafa traders who are suspected to have borrowed money from him. During interrogation, Mangilal admitted that he used the money received from begging to lend to some traders in the Sarafa area at interest. He would lend money for one day and one week and would come to the Sarafa area daily to collect interest. According to Dinesh Mishra, the nodal officer of the rescue team, it also came to light during the investigation that Mangilal owns three permanent houses in different areas of the city. In Bhagat Singh Nagar, there is a three-story house measuring 16 by 45 feet in his name. In Shivnagar, there is a 600 sq ft house, and in Alwas, a 10 by 20 feet one BHK house. One house was provided by the government on the basis of disability. Also hired a driver to drive the Dzire car Mangilal has three auto-rickshaws, which he rents out, and also a Dzire car, for which he has hired a driver. He lives with his parents in the Alwas area, while his two brothers live separately. Action may be taken in usury case District Program Officer Rajneesh Sinha confirmed that action would also be taken against Mangilal for promoting begging. He is also involved in usury, which is a crime. Action will be taken against him once concrete evidence is found. An anti-begging campaign has been running in Indore since February 2024. In the preliminary survey, 6500 beggars were identified, out of which 4500 were counselled and helped to quit begging. Meanwhile, 1600 beggars have been rescued and sent to Sevadham Ashram in Ujjain, and 172 children have been admitted to schools. The administration has clarified that strict action will continue to be taken against those who promote begging, as well as those who engage in it. Officials said – will find out complete property details District Program Officer Rajneesh Sinha said that we will investigate Mangilal’s entire property. We have not yet reached an accurate figure. We are investigating all his sources of income and properties in his name. A list of Mangilal’s bank accounts and other cash has been prepared for verification. It will be presented before the Collector so that he can answer about receiving a Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana house despite owning property. Collector said – Punitive action will be taken Collector Shivam Verma said that punitive action will be taken in this matter. Indore is a beggar-free city and arrangements are being made for the rehabilitation of beggars on behalf of the government, so that they do not face any kind of inconvenience. During the investigation, all facts will be examined and action will be taken based on that. He appealed to the general public to avoid begging. The district administration will fully cooperate, but both taking and giving alms are crimes.