The gem, reportedly weighing 17.96 carats, is estimated to be worth nearly ₹ 50 lakh. Seven daily-wage workers in Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district struck fortune after unearthing a high-value diamond from a leased shallow mine.
Political Context
There have been several instances in which people have found diamonds on their leased land in the town. A diamond official, the rock Pal discovered weighed 17.96 carats, according to Ravi Patel. Earlier in June, a tribal family in the town unearthed an 11.19-carat diamond, estimated at around ₹ 30 lakh. What is interesting is that the family also found a 19.22-carat diamond in 2024 that fetched them ₹ 93 lakh at a government auction.
Patel told the BBC that it was a “gem quality” rock, explaining that it is one of the finest varieties of natural diamonds. The official even described the rock as “precious”.
What will happen next?
Patel said it is expected to fetch nearly ₹ 50 lakh. The government will deduct a 12% royalty from the sale of the diamond. The diamond will be put up for auction, likely in October this year. Buyers from India and abroad are expected to bid on the rock. The remaining amount will be divided equally among the seven men.
