A Rajasthan farmer’s attempt to keep his savings safe from theft and family expenses ended in a major financial loss after termites destroyed cash worth Rs 5 lakh.
Mangilal Meghwal, a farmer from Newai village near Pachpadra in Balotra district, had received the money after selling a plot of land around a year ago. Instead of depositing the amount in a bank, he decided to hide it on his farmland.
Why Did the Farmer Hide Rs 5 Lakh?
According to reports, Mangilal was concerned that the money could be stolen if kept at home. He was also worried that his sons might use the cash for household expenses.
To keep the money hidden, he put the notes inside a plastic bag and buried it in a pit on his farm.
The farmer did not tell his wife or children about the location of the cash.
He Later Forgot Where He Buried the Money
The plan appeared to work until Mangilal needed money for construction work on his farm.
When he went back to recover the cash, he could not remember the exact place where he had buried it.
He searched his large farmland but failed to locate the money. The search continued without success, forcing him to eventually tell his family about the hidden cash.
His family members then joined the search, but the money remained missing.
Cash Found After Nearly One Year
The mystery was finally solved during the monsoon when the family reportedly found a damaged bag in the farmland.
The bag contained the missing cash, but the money was no longer usable in its original form.
Termites had damaged a large portion of the currency notes. Most of the Rs 500 notes were reportedly torn into pieces after being exposed to termites for a long period.
Family Turns to Banks for Help
After finding the damaged currency, Mangilal’s family approached the State Bank of India branch in Pachpadra.
They hoped that the damaged notes could be exchanged and that at least some of the lost money could be recovered. However, the bank reportedly refused to accept the severely damaged currency.
The family then approached the SBI main branch in Balotra, but reportedly did not get the relief they were hoping for.
A Costly Lesson for the Family
The farmer had hidden the money with the intention of protecting his savings. However, keeping such a large amount of cash buried underground for almost a year ultimately resulted in a loss of Rs 5 lakh.
The incident has also led to criticism within the family. Mangilal’s wife and son reportedly blamed him for keeping the money hidden instead of depositing it in a bank.
What began as an attempt to keep the family’s savings secure eventually turned into an unexpected financial setback after termites destroyed the cash.