In a rare stroke of fortune, two young men from Madhya Pradesh’s Panna district have discovered a gem-quality 15.34-carat diamond barely 20 days after taking a small mining lease. Satish Khatik, 24, and 23-year-old Sajid Mohammad, both struggling with financial pressures and the responsibility of arranging their sisters’ marriages, stumbled upon the stone in the Krishna Kalyanpur mining belt.
From Daily Earners to Overnight Sensations
Satish, who works in a meat shop, and Sajid, who helps his family with a fruit stall, had leased a small plot hoping for even a modest find to ease their burdens. Instead, they unearthed a diamond that seasoned miners often spend decades searching for. The duo immediately submitted the stone to the Panna Diamond Office, where officials confirmed its high quality and estimated its value at over ₹50 lakh.
Generations of Hope Fulfilled
For Sajid’s family, the discovery carries emotional weight. His grandfather mined the region’s soil for nearly five decades without finding a stone larger than one carat. His father too spent years in the mines with little success. The sudden strike has brought immense joy to the family, marking the first major find across three generations.
How the Mining Process Works
A mining lease in Panna requires basic documentation, a form, photographs, Aadhaar, and a ₹200 challan. Once approved, the Diamond Office allocates a small plot where miners either dig themselves or hire labour. Any diamond recovered must be deposited with the authorities and later auctioned, often fetching higher-than-estimated prices depending on market demand.
Applicants must submit a form with three photos, Aadhaar copy, and a ₹200 bank challan (SBI Panna branch).
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A copy of the challan must be submitted to the Diamond Office.
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The lease is usually granted within 20 days.
Process for mining on private land
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Consent and agreement from landowners is mandatory.
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Documents such as a sale deed, rental deed, photos, Aadhaar card, and a ₹200 challan must be submitted.
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Private mines must also fall within a designated diamond-mining zone.
How diamonds are extracted
Once a lease is issued, the Diamond Office allocates an 8×8 meter plot. Miners may work themselves or hire labour.
Extraction involves:
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Screening and removing soft soil
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Washing gravelly soil
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Drying
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Sorting through the remaining material
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Any diamond found must be deposited with the Diamond Office.