Happy new year, indeed: Dug-out diamond makes two laborers crorepatis
In a fortunate turn of events, two poor miners of Madhya Pradesh's Panna district became crorepatis as the diamond they dug out was sold at an auction for Rs. 2.55 crore on Friday. The miners, Raghuveer and Motilal Prajapati, had gotten their hands on the stone in October, just days before Diwali, and before the New Year starts, they got the reward. Here's what happened.
Fed up of poverty, laborers headed to Panna
Motilal was upset with poverty and headed off to Panna, where scores of people try their luck in the shallow diamond mines. However, he didn't imagine his finding would change his life forever. "Mazaa aa gaya," a jubilant Motilal had said then. As per rules, the stone (whose size matched a pebble) was deposited at the district administration for auction.
The diamond was sold for Rs. 2.55 crore
A Jhansi jeweler and a BSP leader from Uttar Pradesh made a bid of Rs. 6 lakh per carat. The 42.9-carat diamond fetched Rs. 2.55 crore. Santosh Singh, the diamond officer of Panna, said the bidder has given 20% of the amount and will give the rest after delivery. After deducting 12% royalty and other taxes, the money will be transferred to them.
Children's education and repaying loans on miners' mind
Notably, the men didn't attend the auction. In the evening, they broke into a celebration and distributed sweets. They said they can finally educate their children with this money. Motilal added Raghuveer needed the money to repay debts. The miners would share an amount of Rs. 2.30 crore, approximately. Singh said the money would not take longer than a month to reach them.
