Rajasthan vegetable seller wins Rs 11 crore lottery after borrowing Rs 1,000 from friend

He also revealed that he intended to share his winnings with the family of the friend who lent him the Rs 1,000 to buy the tickets. (image: X)

Amit Sehra, a 32-year-old vegetable vendor from Kotputli town in Rajasthan’s Jaipur district, became the winner of the Rs 11 crore top prize in the Punjab State Lottery’s Diwali Bumper 2025 draw. Sehra, who makes a living by selling vegetables on a small roadside cart, had borrowed Rs 1,000 from a friend to purchase two lottery tickets — one for himself and one for his wife.

While his wife’s ticket brought a small return of Rs 1,000, the one he bought for himself in Bathinda for Rs 500 carried the jackpot number. The draw, conducted in Ludhiana, brought an unexpected transformation to Sehra’s life and his family’s future.

Speaking to ANI, Sehra said he was unable to describe his happiness at the outcome. “I cannot express how I feel. All my sorrow has ended today,” he said, adding that he considered the win a blessing from Lord Hanuman, to whom he is deeply devoted. He expressed gratitude to the Punjab government and the lottery organisers for running the scheme, stating, “I thank the Punjab government from my heart and pray that everyone’s poverty ends.”

Sehra explained that he had been visiting Moga, Punjab, when he decided to try his luck in the lottery. Borrowing money from a friend, he bought two tickets from Bathinda city. Reflecting on his good fortune, he said he never expected such an outcome, calling the event a “miracle of destiny.”

He also revealed that he intended to share his winnings with the family of the friend who lent him the Rs 1,000 to buy the tickets. “I plan to give Rs 50 lakh each to his two daughters. I lost my mother, so I understand the pain of daughters,” he said.

He also stated that the remaining amount would be used to improve his family’s living conditions, fund his children’s education, and build a home. “This money will help my children study and secure their future,” he said, noting that he wished to live a simple life even after the win.

Before claiming his prize, Sehra admitted that he had faced difficulty travelling to Chandigarh for the formalities due to his financial condition. “I did not even have the money to go to Chandigarh,” he said. “It is only by God’s grace that He blessed me so abundantly.”

Officials from the Punjab State Lottery Department confirmed that Sehra had completed the prize claim procedure in Bathinda with his family on November 4, 2025. The officials clarified that all winners are required to submit the original ticket and relevant documents directly to the Punjab government for verification and payment. “There is no fee for claim submission,” an official told News18, adding that the Punjab government runs only paper-based lotteries and does not operate any online lottery schemes.

News of Sehra’s win quickly spread across his hometown in Kotputli, where residents celebrated his success with enthusiasm. His neighbours and local traders gathered to congratulate him, describing him as a hardworking and humble man.

A video of Sehra speaking to reporters has since gone viral on social media, drawing messages of congratulations and support.