Authorities in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, were stunned when they discovered that a man long thought to be a disabled beggar is actually a millionaire with multiple properties, vehicles, and even a personal driver.
The man, popularly known as Mangilal but whose real name is Mahakal, was seen at the Sarafa Night Market collecting money from passersby. Suspecting he was part of an organized begging racket, officials detained him and brought him to a social welfare center for questioning.
Investigations revealed that Mangilal owns three houses in Indore, a Maruti Suzuki Dzire car with a chauffeur, and three auto-rickshaws that he rents out. He is also believed to have accumulated wealth through lending money at high interest rates.
“I don’t beg—I collect debts”
Mangilal insists he is not a beggar. Speaking to local reporters, he said that being misunderstood came from his appearance and personal circumstances.
“I came to Sarafa market after 10 p.m. not to ask for money, but to collect money from the people I had lent to. Since I couldn’t get my car into the market, I sat on a rickshaw. Seeing me like that, many people took pity on me and put money in my pocket, even though I refused,” he said.
From manual labor to “micro-lending”
Born in Ujjain in 1956, Mangilal moved to Indore at the age of 12. He started with small jobs, such as delivering jute bags for merchants, before saving enough to begin lending money. Over the years, he expanded his activities and now earns between 50,000 and 60,000 rupees a month (around $600–$720), mainly from rentals and loans to street vendors.
Despite his wealth, Mangilal lives modestly with his elderly mother and a nephew. His relationship with his daughter is estranged, and he says he has no heirs. Instead, he plans to donate his assets to a monastery to support education and help poor girls marry with dignity.
The government continues to investigate
Authorities remain cautious. The Department of Women and Child Development in Indore confirmed they had monitored him for six weeks before detaining him. They continue to investigate the origins of his fortune, as the boundary between begging, debt collection, and legitimate business remains unclear.
The case has sparked widespread debate across India: is Mangilal a fraud exploiting public sympathy, or a self-made man misunderstood because of his disability and appearance?
