Nearly 11 Carat Diamond Worth Tk 50 Lakh Found in Madhya Pradesh Mine

A 10.69 carat diamond, with an approximate value of Tk 50 lakh, was unearthed in a mine in the Madhya Pradesh district of Panna, an official said on Tuesday.

Anandilal Kushwaha (35), who leases a mine in the Ranipur district, has deposited 10.69 carat diamonds with the local Diamond Office (Hira Karyalaya), Panna Diamond Officer R K Pandey said.

Kushwaha had also recently deposited a 70-cent gem, he added, adding that this was the first major finding since the coronavirus-induced lockdown had been eased in the area.

The precious stone will be auctioned and the profits will be returned to the depositor after deducting royalties and taxes from the state, the official said.

Although the diamond is yet to be valued, local experts claimed that it can fetch up to Rs 50 lakh based on its quality.

Kushwaha told reporters that he and his partners have been working hard for the last six months in the mine and were thrilled about the find.

Panna district in the state's Bundelkhand region is famous for its diamond reserves.