A motorist in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has been booked for allegedly giving Rs 10 to a beggar, in violation of the city’s ban on both begging and giving alms, authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
This marks the second such incident within a two-week period.
According to police, an FIR (First Information Report) was filed under Section 223 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to disobedience of orders issued by public authorities.
The case involves an unidentified motorist who gave the Rs 10 to a beggar sitting near a temple in the Lasudia police station area on Monday.
The complaint was filed by an officer from the administration’s beggary eradication team.
Under Section 223 of the BNS, violators face potential penalties, including up to one year in prison, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both.
The local administration, which aims to make Indore India’s first beggar-free city, has enforced a legal prohibition on begging, giving alms, or purchasing items from beggars.
The first such case this year was registered on January 23, when a person gave alms to a beggar in front of a temple on Khandwa Road.
Phool Singh, an officer from the Beggary Eradication Team, noted that over the past six months, more than 600 individuals involved in begging have been sent to rehabilitation shelters, and around 100 children were placed in child care institutions.
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Many of these individuals were reportedly begging while pretending to sell small items like balloons at traffic signals.
To support the initiative, the administration has also announced a reward of Rs 1,000 for those who provide information on begging activities in the city.
This effort aligns with a broader initiative by the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, which has launched a pilot project aiming to make 10 cities in India beggar-free.
