Indore’s Crorepati Beggar: How Mangilal Built Own House, Cars, and Bank Balance

A government drive against begging in Madhya Pradesh has thrown up a striking case in Indore. Officials tracked down Mangilal, a regular street beggar, who reportedly owns assets worth crores while still seeking alms at busy city junctions with a wooden board.

The discovery came during the Indore Beggar Eradication Campaign, launched by the Madhya Pradesh government to identify habitual beggars. Teams found that Mangilal not only begs, but also runs rental and lending activities, raising questions about hidden income in urban begging networks.

Indore Beggar Eradication Campaign exposes crorepati beggar’s properties

According to officials, Mangilal holds three residential properties in different parts of Indore. These include a three-storey house in Bhagat Singh Nagar, along with homes in Shivnagar and Alwas. Investigators said the total value of these houses reaches into crores, far beyond usual street earnings.

Mangilal is also registered as a beneficiary of a one-BHK unit given under a joint housing initiative of the Madhya Pradesh government and the Red Cross. Despite receiving this support, officials said Mangilal continued to beg regularly across Indore, and became a familiar figure to locals.

Indore Beggar Eradication Campaign finds autos, car and moneylending

Further checks showed that Mangilal owns three auto-rickshaws, rented out for daily income, and a Maruti Suzuki Dzire also used as a taxi. Alongside vehicle rentals, Mangilal reportedly operates as a part-time moneylender in Indore’s Sarafa Bazaar.

Officials said Mangilal visits Sarafa Bazaar often and collects around Rs 400–500 in interest from borrowers each time. Regular visits have made Mangilal a known face among traders and workers in the area, even as many still see Mangilal begging on city streets.

After residents raised concerns, several complaints reached the district administration. The District Nodal Officer told India Today that these inputs led the Women and Child Development team to pick up Mangilal from the streets and bring the case under official scrutiny.

District Program Officer Rajeesh Sinha said authorities would not relax enforcement under the Indore Beggar Eradication Campaign. Rajeesh Sinha stated that the state administration will continue strict action against those who encourage begging, as well as those who choose to beg despite support schemes.