Rajasthan Farmer Loses ₹5 Lakh to Termites

Core News & Key Facts

A Rajasthan farmer’s attempt to keep ₹5 lakh safely hidden ended in a costly shock when the cash was found badly damaged by termites. Mangilal, a farmer from Nevai village in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, had reportedly received the money after selling a portion of his agricultural land about a year ago. Instead of depositing the proceeds in a bank or keeping them at home, he decided to bury the cash in his own field. He placed the money in a bag, dug a pit and concealed it at a location he believed would remain secure. The plan, however, created an unexpected problem when he later forgot exactly where he had buried the money.

After several months, Mangilal remembered the hidden cash but could not identify the precise spot. He informed his family, and they searched different parts of their roughly six-acre agricultural property, digging at several suspected locations without success. The family eventually gave up hope of recovering the money. The cash bag was discovered unexpectedly when the field was being ploughed for sowing. The initial relief quickly turned into disappointment after the family opened the bag and found that termites had severely damaged the currency notes.

Context & Statements

The family collected whatever notes remained partially intact and approached a local State Bank of India branch for assistance. According to Mangilal’s account to the media, bank officials told him that the damage to the notes, including their important serial numbers, made the local branch unable to exchange them. He was reportedly advised to approach the Reserve Bank of India or the main branch in Jaipur for further guidance on whether the damaged currency could be dealt with under applicable procedures.

The incident highlights the risks of storing large amounts of cash in places that are not designed for currency preservation. While the farmer initially believed that keeping the money on his own land would protect it from theft and household expenses, the underground storage exposed the notes to moisture, insects and other forms of physical deterioration.

Impact & What's Next

The immediate question for Mangilal’s family is whether any portion of the damaged cash can still be exchanged. The condition of the surviving notes and their identifiable features will be important in determining what assistance may be available. For the family, finding the buried money brought little relief after months of uncertainty because much of the ₹5 lakh had already been destroyed.