Srirangapatna: Barely a week after Rs. 8.40 lakh was found in the house of a deceased beggar in Mandya city, another startling case has come to light in Srirangapatna, where more than Rs. 2 lakh in cash was found in the possession of a beggar, Savithramma, yesterday.

Savithramma, aged around 70, had been ill and living for several years behind the Aiyappa Swamy Kalyana Mantapa in Srirangapatna town.

When residents and volunteers inspected her house, they were shocked to find bundles of currency notes and heaps of coins. By yesterday evening, currency notes amounting to Rs. 1.80 lakh had been counted, while the coins were still being tallied.

More than 20 sacks filled with coins and over 10 smaller bags containing currency notes were recovered. A team of more than 15 volunteers from the Mysuru Charitable Trust undertook the painstaking task of counting the money.

Currency notes of Rs. 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 denominations were found along with large quantities of coins. The volunteers also found a few US dollar notes among the currency.

Besides the cash, the volunteers recovered more than 20 bags of rice and ragi, two tractor-loads of clothes and various household items. Much of the rice and ragi had spoiled due to insect infestation, while the old clothes were burnt as they were no longer usable. Other waste materials were cleared and the house was thoroughly cleaned.

After cleaning the premises, the volunteers bathed Savithramma and began caring for her. The counting of coins is expected to continue today, following which the exact amount of cash recovered will be known.

Resident and Vedic scholar Dr. Bhanuprakash Sharma of Dewan Poornaiah Beedhi said Savithramma had been sleeping behind his house for several years. She had been living there with her mother, Parvathi.

Sharma said he had informed the Mysuru Charitable Trust about Savithramma’s condition and the Trust had agreed to help her.

“The mother-daughter duo used to seek alms near temples and the river. Parvathi died a few months ago and Savithramma had been living alone since then. Savithramma, who was very weak, has been admitted to a hospital. We have no information about any close relatives,” he said.