Sacks Containing US$8,800 in Cash Found at Home of Indian Beggar During Funeral
Sacks Containing US$8,800 in Cash Found at Home of Indian Beggar During Funeral – Thousands of coins and banknotes have been discovered hidden in sacks at the home of a 69-year-old woman in Karnataka, India, who had spent 40 years begging.
Noorunnisa, also known as Noor or Hoor, was found dead at her home in Mandya on Sunday, August 23.
Neighbours reportedly became concerned after noticing that she had not been seen outside for several days. Relatives entered the house and found her dead.
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While cleaning the property, family members opened a locked room that Noorunnisa had reportedly kept private for decades. They discovered more than 30 sacks containing coins and currency notes, with denominations of Rs10, Rs20 and Rs50.
Ten of the sacks were reportedly found to contain a combined Rs8.4 lakh in cash which is worth US$8,800.
The money was temporarily handed over to a local mosque for safekeeping and counting while the family waited for other relatives.
Social media rumours later claimed that the stash exceeded Rs1 crore. However, mosque officials dismissed the claims after conducting a two-day audit.
“The family entrusted us with the money. The counting was conducted strictly in front of the family members, and the total came to Rs8.4 lakh,” said Mukthar Ahmed, vice-president of the local mosque.
“We have handed the entire amount back to the family.”
The family said the money would be distributed among needy relatives.
Noorunnisa was one of six siblings and had reportedly lived alone since her unmarried sister died two years ago. Her family said she had been begging for around 40 years.
“We visited her occasionally to give her food and help her bathe,” said her nephew, Fairoz Ahmed.
“However, we were completely unaware of the money she had accumulated. The room where the cash was found was always kept locked. She never allowed anyone inside and would only speak to us while standing at the door.”
Fairoz said the family had repeatedly tried to convince her to stop begging.
Residents recalled seeing Noorunnisa along major roads after 10am and outside a local mosque on Fridays, where she received cash and food from members of the public.
“Whenever small children refused to eat food or hear our words, we used to tell them Noor would pick you up and go,” one resident said, describing the perception that she was extremely poor.
