A leprosy-stricken beggar on the streets of Indore in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, turned out to be a true slumdog millionaire, with several houses, vehicles and businesses to his name, the media in India reported.

As part of concentrated efforts to make Indore a beggar-free city, local authorities recently rescued a physically-challenged man who had been begging for years in the bustling Sarafa Bazaar.

Unable to walk, the 50-year-old man, known only as Mangilal, spent his days cross-legged on a small wooden platform fitted with wheels, slowly pushing himself around. He had lost his fingers to leprosy, so he was a sorry sight that made many reach into their pockets for a few notes.

Mangilal always stood on his platform with his gaze fixed on the ground, which only made him more pitiful. But it turns out this was a carefully planned strategy that made him richer than most able-bodied people in the world.

After he was taken off the street, brought in, given a shower, and provided with clean clothes, Mangilal was questioned by civil servants about his situation, and it turned out that he wasn’t as helpless as he appeared.

He reportedly earned thousands of rupees per day begging and was lending money to shopkeepers in the Sarafa Bazaar at interest.

Subsequent checks revealed that he was not homeless, but actually owned three houses: a three-storey house, a second house, and a flat that was given to him by a government welfare programme.

In addition, he owned two auto-rickshaws that he had rented out to others, and a car for which he had hired a driver on a salary of 12,000 Rupees (about $130).

Mangilal himself admitted that the money he earned in Safara wasn’t required for survival, but rather a source of funds for various investments.

Officials are currently checking if the 50-year-old beggar has any bank accounts to his name as well. During the investigation, it was revealed that Mangilal’s family members were also involved in begging.

"I certainly go there, but don’t beg, it’s the people who put the money in my pocket or throw coins or notes on the wooden board,” Mangilal explained. (Nigerian Tribune, but headline rejigged)

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