IIT Bombay topper and UPSC aspirant Yogesh Sahu walked away with Rs 50 lakh after deciding not to attempt the Rs 1 crore question on Kaun Banega Crorepati 18. The question asked which horse owned by the Maharaja of Baroda won the first Indian Derby at Mumbai's Mahalaxmi Racecourse in 1943. With no lifelines remaining, Sahu chose to quit rather than risk losing his winnings.

The four options presented to him were Princess Beautiful, Regal Domain, Star of Gwalior and Prince Pradeep. Sahu tried to reach the answer through elimination but remained uncertain. He particularly ruled out Princess Beautiful because he believed the question's reference to a "horse" suggested that the answer should have been a male horse. Since he could not confidently identify the correct option, he decided to take the guaranteed Rs 50 lakh.

After Sahu left the game, host Amitabh Bachchan revealed that Princess Beautiful was the correct answer. Sahu was then asked to guess which option he would have selected, and he chose Prince Pradeep. When the correct answer was announced, Sahu pointed out that Princess Beautiful was the option he had deliberately eliminated because of the wording of the question.

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Bachchan explained that Princess Beautiful was a mare, which accounted for the feminine name. The horse belonged to Maharaja Pratap Singh Rao Gaekwad of Baroda, who was known for his interest in horse racing and breeding. Princess Beautiful had an impressive racing record, winning the Indian 1000 Guineas, Indian 2000 Guineas and the inaugural Indian Derby.

Sahu's journey on the show had already attracted attention because of his academic background and decision to pursue civil services. The IIT Bombay topper had previously revealed that he rejected an Rs 18 lakh-per-year campus placement offer to continue preparing for the UPSC examination. His father also spoke about the family's financial difficulties and said Sahu remained determined to pursue his goal of becoming an IAS officer.

Kaun Banega Crorepati 18 premiered on August 10 with Amitabh Bachchan returning as host. The latest season features 16 questions, with the top prize increased to Rs 7 crore. Although Sahu missed the Rs 1 crore opportunity, his decision to stop ensured that he retained Rs 50 lakh, while the episode also sparked discussion over whether the wording of the crucial question may have influenced his decision.

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