Anantapur: Beggar Ponnaiah's life had rich twist after he won first prize of Rs 65 lakh in the Kerala State run Akshaya lottery. Ponnaiah turned disabled after he met with an accident five years ago and migrated to Kerala from Anantapur and started to beg and survived as a beggar.
Ponnaiah's family was residing in Anantapur and he used to send money for the family from his earnings. Further he had a habit of purchasing lottery tickets.
Ponnaiah won the first prize of Rs 65 lakh when lots were drawn on Wednesday. He used to sleep at the Marthandam bus stand and regularly send home the money he collected every day.
The lottery agent was first surprised and tracked him down and took him to the Vellarada police station, considering his security since he was the lottery winner.
Vellarada police in Kerala said Ponnaiah had bought 10 tickets and luck favoured him and he won the first prize. He also won one of the small consolation prizes since he had 10 tickets.
Next day, his father and brother took him home in Anantapur, sources said. The police and lottery agents handed over the entire prize money to his family. Ponnaiah said that this money will be very much useful to him and would be used to run his household and for his children education as well.
