Rich man 'rescued' as beggar in Indore.

Indore’s beggar-free drive turned bizarre when a crorepati beggar surfaced. A pale-looking, physically disabled man who was sliding an iron cart with his hands inside shoes and begging across the streets

owns three houses, lends money on interest, and owns a car.

The person, identified as Mangilal, reportedly never “begged”; he only used to push his iron cart on streets and mint crores. Passers-by used to give him cash or coins. As per a report by The Times of India, he earns between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 daily.

When Mangilal was rescued by a team from MP’s Women and Child Development Department, the truth came forth.

Mangilal informed the officials that he owns a three-storey house in Bhagat Singh Nagar, a 600 sq ft home in Shiv Nagar, and a one-bedroom flat in Alwasa that he received through the Red Cross Society under the PMAY scheme due to his disability. He also possesses three auto-rickshaws, which he rents out, and a Swift Dzire car with a driver on his payroll.

He further added that he also lends money on high interest and collects daily or weekly interest.

Officials have noted down Mangilal’s bank accounts and other cash reserves for verification. He will also be produced before the district collector for obtaining a house under the PMAY scheme despite having a house.

Indore is working towards beggar-free streets since February 2024. Over 6,500 beggars have been identified in just two years in this drive. In May 2025, District Magistrate Ashish Singh announced that nearly 5,000 beggars have been rehabilitated since the campaign began in February 2024.

The campaign focused on rehabilitation and inclusion. Over 170 rescued children now go to schools; adults were trained and placed in jobs through state-run initiatives. This human-first strategy also won recognition from the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the World Bank.