Panna labourer Rakesh Gond finds 11.19-carat diamond worth ₹40 lakh
Synopsis
A tribal labourer who leased an 8x8-metre pit for just a few months walked away with an 11.19-carat white diamond worth up to ₹40 lakh — and his family has done it before. The Gond family's second major find from Panna's ancient alluvial fields is a reminder that India's most accessible gem-mining district keeps rewriting fortunes one muddy sift at a time.
Key Takeaways
Rakesh Gond , a tribal labourer from Panna district, Madhya Pradesh , discovered an 11.19-carat white diamond at the Ahirguwa mines .
The gem is estimated to fetch up to ₹40 lakh at an upcoming government open auction.
Rakesh had leased the 8x8-metre pit in April 2025 ; the find was made in June 2025 .
His brother and father previously found a 19.22-carat diamond in the Krishna Kalyanpur area.
On 18 June 2025 , another miner, Mira Singh , found a 6.45-carat diamond in Jaruapur village , estimated at over ₹12 lakh .
The family plans to use the proceeds to clear loans, buy farmland, build a home, and fund children's education.
A tribal labourer from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh has unearthed an 11.19-carat white diamond that district officials estimate could fetch up to ₹40 lakh at an upcoming government auction, in what is being described as a life-changing discovery for his family. Rakesh Gond made the find on a Sunday in June 2025 while sifting through mud at the Ahirguwa mines in Panna, using only basic tools in a leased pit measuring 8 by 8 metres.
How the Discovery Unfolded
Rakesh Gond, who earns his livelihood as a daily-wage labourer, had taken on the lease for the mining pit in April 2025. Working through layers of soil with rudimentary equipment, he spotted the stone and immediately recognised its value. He rushed home to inform his family before depositing the gem at the Government Diamond Office in Panna, following the mandatory procedure for all finds in the region's leased mines.
Diamond experts and district officials who examined the stone praised its excellent shape and quality. After deducting applicable government royalty and taxes, the remaining proceeds from the auction will go directly to Rakesh and his family.
A Family with a History of Remarkable Finds
The discovery is not the first stroke of fortune for the Gond family. According to a Panna diamond mining official, Rakesh's brother and father had previously unearthed a 19.22-carat diamond in the Krishna Kalyanpur area — a find that itself added to Panna's legacy of producing high-quality gems. The family comes from a modest tribal background, and such discoveries represent a rare but real route out of financial hardship for communities in the region.
What the Family Plans to Do
The Gond family has outlined practical plans for the windfall: clearing outstanding loans, investing in farmland, constructing a better home, and — most significantly — funding quality education for their children. The plans reflect a broader pattern among Panna's mining families, who often use auction proceeds to address long-standing financial vulnerabilities rather than one-time expenditure.
Other Recent Finds in Panna
The region has seen a cluster of significant discoveries in recent weeks. On 18 June 2025, a woman named Mira Singh found a 6.45-carat diamond at a quarry in Jaruapur village. Officials estimate that stone could fetch more than ₹12 lakh. Singh had taken over the lease of her mine in March 2025 and had been mining continuously before striking the find.
Panna has been known for its diamond deposits since ancient times and remains one of the few districts in India where individual citizens can lease small plots and mine legally. As long as the region's alluvial deposits hold, such life-altering discoveries are likely to continue.
Point of View
But it also spotlights a structural reality: one of India's most legally accessible mineral-rich zones continues to rely on subsistence-level individual leasing rather than organised community benefit-sharing. The Gond family's second major discovery from the same district raises a question mainstream coverage skips — why do families who strike diamonds here still carry loans and live in inadequate housing until the auction clears? Panna's alluvial wealth is real, but the gap between a lucky find and lasting economic security remains wide, largely because royalty structures and auction timelines leave winners in limbo for months.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rakesh Gond and what did he find?
Rakesh Gond is a tribal labourer from Panna district in Madhya Pradesh who discovered an 11.19-carat white diamond at the Ahirguwa mines in June 2025. He found it while sifting through mud in a leased pit measuring 8 by 8 metres that he had taken on in April 2025.
How much is the 11.19-carat diamond worth?
District officials estimate the diamond could fetch up to ₹40 lakh at an upcoming government open auction in Panna. After government royalty and taxes are deducted, the remaining proceeds will go to Rakesh and his family.
Has the Gond family found diamonds before?
Yes. According to a Panna diamond mining official, Rakesh's brother and father previously discovered a 19.22-carat diamond in the Krishna Kalyanpur area of Panna district, making this the family's second significant find.
Are there other recent diamond discoveries in Panna?
On 18 June 2025, Mira Singh found a 6.45-carat diamond at a quarry in Jaruapur village. That stone is estimated to be worth more than ₹12 lakh. Singh had been mining continuously since taking over her lease in March 2025.
How does diamond mining work for individuals in Panna?
In Panna, individuals can legally lease small plots — typically measured in metres — from the government and mine for diamonds using basic tools. Any find must be deposited at the Government Diamond Office in Panna, after which it goes to an open auction and proceeds, minus royalty and taxes, are returned to the leaseholder.
