From Stalls to Fortune: Two Friends Unearth Rs 50 Lakh Diamond Jackpot in Panna
Friends discover gem-quality diamond worth Rs 50 lakh.
Two young men from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district have made a remarkable discovery, unearthing a 15.34-carat, gem-quality diamond estimated to be worth approximately Rs 50 lakh. The duo, 24-year-old Satish Khatik and 23-year-old Sajid Mohammad, had leased a small mining plot in the diamond-rich region with the hope of overcoming financial hardships and arranging funds for their sisters’ weddings. Their persistence in mining under challenging conditions has now yielded life-changing results.
Satish, who runs a modest meat shop, and Sajid, who works at a fruit stall, emphasized that their foremost priority was to secure their sisters’ marriages. Mining in Panna has been a tradition in Sajid’s family, with both his grandfather and father attempting to find diamonds for decades, albeit with limited success. Their breakthrough represents both personal triumph and the continuation of a long-standing family aspiration.
The diamond was mined from Krishna Kalyanpur and officially deposited at the Panna Diamond Office, where authorities verified its valuation. Diamond officer Ravi Patel confirmed that the stone would be auctioned in the upcoming sale, drawing traders and collectors from across India. This auction process provides miners a legitimate platform to realize substantial financial gains while ensuring government oversight of valuable discoveries.
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Panna, often referred to as the “City of Diamonds,” has a rich history of diamond production, transforming the fortunes of local miners over generations. Earlier this year, six farmers discovered five diamonds, three of them gem-quality, valued collectively at nearly Rs 12 lakh. The region continues to attract individuals seeking economic opportunities through small-scale mining ventures. More than 60 diamonds have already been deposited at the Panna Diamond Office this year alone, highlighting the district’s ongoing significance in India’s gem industry.
Leasing an eight-metre mining plot in Panna reportedly costs only Rs 200 annually, making it accessible to small-scale miners and hopeful entrepreneurs. Diamond auctions are held every three months, and the final price is subject to a 12 percent government deduction, including 11 percent royalty and 1 percent Tax Deducted at Source (TDS). The remaining amount is paid directly to the discoverers, providing them with the potential to achieve financial stability and transform their lives, as now seen in the success story of Satish and Sajid.
