Farmer finds 14.98-carat diamond on rented plot of land

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A farmer is now a millionaire after scooping up a 14.98-carat diamond in a patch of land he rented in Panna, India.

Lakhan Yadav noticed the jewel when he dug up a handful of earth in the plot, as per the Times of India yesterday, Dec. 7. Yadav first thought he simply found a different pebble, but quickly changed his mind when he rubbed it clean.

Once he realized that it was a rare stone, he brought it to a diamond officer, who verified that it was a real diamond. After having it appraised, the gemstone was auctioned off for over 6 million rupees ($82,000, P3.9 million) last Saturday, Dec. 5.

As to how he intends on spending his newfound fortune, he stated that he would not go for “anything big” and would instead save it for his children.

“I am not an educated person and I’ll put the money in a fixed deposit to ensure my four kids get good education,” Yadav said in the report.

However, Yadav also allowed himself to splurge a bit to upgrade his means of transportation. His first purchase with the money he earned was a motorcycle that cost 100,000 rupees ($1,300, P65,200).

“I bought the motorcycle because my nephews insisted. I was happy with my bicycle,” he was quoted as saying.

Following the life-changing find, Yadav has decided to continue digging the patch of land and may have its lease renewed.

Yadav has also purchased two hectares of land and two buffaloes using compensation he received from the Panna National Park. The park had displaced him and his family to make space for a tiger reserve, according to the Environmental Justice Atlas.

Aside from Yadav, three other men also found their own diamonds in the last 10 days. Ryan Arcadio/JB

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