A startling reality linked to begging has emerged in India, where a disabled man sitting in a busy market in Indore was discovered to be a millionaire.
The man, identified as Mangi Lal, appeared to live a simple life. He neither actively begged nor called out to passersby for attention; instead, people voluntarily offered him money.
According to Indian media reports, Mangi Lal would quietly sit on an iron handcart each day and typically received between 400 and 500 rupees in alms on ordinary days. However, the real revelation came when authorities examined his financial records during a government-led anti-begging campaign.
Investigations revealed that his income was not limited to alms alone. Mangi Lal would lend the money he collected during the day to market traders at night for a day or a week, charging interest regularly. This practice had become his primary source of income.
Further inquiries uncovered that Mangi Lal owned three houses, three auto-rickshaws, and a car. His auto-rickshaws were being operated on rent, and he had even employed a permanent driver for his car. In addition, he had been allotted government accommodation on the basis of his disability.
Following the discovery of assets worth millions, authorities shifted Mangi Lal to a shelter home. The case is now being cited as a significant example under the government’s anti-begging policy.
