Finance lessons from one of Mumbai’s richest beggars

A murder probe reveals how Malad beggar Shantabai Kurade, 69, amassed staggering wealth over three decades, sending at least Rs 25,000 to her dependant grandchildren in Washim every month

Shantabai Kurade, 69, who had spent 35 years begging on the streets of Mumbai, was found murdered in her rented house in Vitthal Nagar at Chincholi Bunder in Malad West last week. According to police sources, after the death of her husband, she not only managed to marry off her only daughter but also regularly sent her family in Washim district Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 every month, enabling them to build a house and buy a three-acre piece of land worth crores. Today, her two grandchildren earn in lakhs thanks to the plot.

The Durga Mata Mandir near Dalmia College in Malad, one of the spots where Shantabai Kurade used to beg for alms. Pic/Shadab Khan

According to police sources, Kurade's body was discovered in her house on Friday morning. The Malad police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including the one dealing with murder, and initiated its investigation on Monday. They eventually caught the accused, Baiju Mahadev Mukhiya, 45, the previous tenant of the house where Kurade was living on rent. The landlord had evicted him due to non-payment of rent last month and also held onto his belongings as he hadn’t paid his dues.

According to the police, on the night of the incident, Mukhiya entered the house by removing an iron sheet to retrieve his belongings. He then saw Kurade sleeping and noticed a bag of money nearby, which he attempted to steal. However, Kurade woke up and started making noise, prompting Mukhiya to stuff a cloth in her mouth and hit her head. He then fled after killing her by throwing her to the floor.

Investigation team

To crack the case, a thorough investigation was carried out under the guidance of Anand Bhoite, DCP, Zone XI. Senior Inspector Ravindra Adhane, PSI Shivaji Shinde and his detection team reviewed over 50 pieces of CCTV footage. The footage revealed a suspect without slippers in the area on the night of the incident. Mukhiya was apprehended from the Vijayawada area. “Initially, he denied any involvement, but he later confessed to the crime, detailing how he committed the murder,” said an officer from the Malad police station.

The accused, Baiju Mahadev Mukhiya, with the Malad police

Mukhiya, originally from Bihar, has been residing in Mumbai for the past decade and working as a daily wage labourer. “He had rented the same house where Kurade was residing. Due to non-payment of rent, the landlord evicted Mukhiya and rented the space to Kurade, taking a Rs 15,000 deposit and a monthly rent of Rs 4,000,” said a police officer.

After speaking to Kurade’s daughter and grandchildren, the authorities learnt that she had come to Mumbai about 35 years ago. At the time, her husband used to work on their small land in their native village which he sold later. The money earned by Kurade was used by her grandsons, aged 31 and 27, to purchase three acres on which cotton and soya beans are grown. Occasionally, Kurade would visit her village to see her daughter and grandsons and come back to Mumbai, as her son-in-law had passed away.

Chincholi Hanuman Mandir on SV Road in Malad, one of the spots where Shantabai Kurade used to beg for alms. Pics/Shadab Khan

“She used to beg outside various temples, mosques and dargahs on different days, and whatever she earned was transferred to her daughter’s bank account,” the officer added. Mukhiya told the police that he stole about Rs 15,000 from her.

May 17
Day Kurade’s body was discovered

Rs 4,000
Monthly rent paid by Kurade

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