The Art of Deception: The Story of India’s Most Notorious Conman, Natwarlal - Knew Today

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The Art of Deception: The Story of India’s Most Notorious Conman, Natwarlal

Written by Chittaranjan Panda · 3 min read >
Natwarlal
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He goes by the infamous moniker Mr. Natwarlal born Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava. You won’t forget him after reading about him, the man dubbed “the Conman of India” .

Roots and Beginnings: The Early Years of Mr.Natwarlal

Natwarlal, an Indian conman most known for his high-profile crimes and jail breaks, was born Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava and lived from 1912 to 25 July 2009.

He is accused of selling the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, and the Indian Parliament House numerous times.

In the village of Bangra in the Bihar Siwan district, Mithilesh Kumar Srivastava, who would later become Natwarlal, was born. He was the elder brother of two to a Station master.

He was able to take 1,000 rupees out of his neighbor’s account before he noticed after realizing how simple it would be to fake his signature when Natwarlal’s neighbor sent him to deposit his bank drafts, which is how he first learned to forge.

Natwarlal fled to Calcutta and registered as a student for a bachelor’s in commerce while working as a part-time stock dealer. He made an unsuccessful attempt to start a fabric business as well.

Natwarlal’s father was a station master, so he was knowledgeable about India’s railway freight industry. He also gained awareness of banking regulations thanks to his bachelor of business degree and his time spent working as a stock broker. He was able to pull off the scams because to his proficiency in falsifying paperwork and signatures.

The Making of a Legend: Tracing the Career Journey of Mr.Natwarlal

Natwarlal briefly adjusted his strategy after being apprehended for the first time in 1937 for stealing nine tonnes of iron. Police reported that he would frequently visit prostitutes, offer them poisoned alcohol, steal their jewelry and cash, and then flee. Natwarlal quickly decided that this strategy was too risky, so he returned to con artists.

Natwarlal is accused of defrauding thousands of rupees from hundreds of shop owners, jewelers, bankers, and foreigners while disguising himself with more than fifty identities.

He frequently employed innovative techniques to defraud people, as in the 1950s when he defrauded the Punjab National Bank of 6.5 lakh rupees through a scheme involving train freight and bags of rice. He was extremely skilled at imitating the signatures of well-known people.

He is alleged to have stolen substantial quantities of money from a number of industrialists, including the Tatas, the Birlas, and Dhirubhai Ambani. According to a story, Natwarlal included the members of parliament in the “sale” of the Parliament House to a foreign buyer.

According to legend, Natwarlal was something of a Robin Hood in his home hamlet of Bangra. According to legend, he donated his earnings to the less fortunate.

He became well-known thanks to stories of his heists, which tended to be non-violent and only targeted the rich and powerful. Whenever Natwartal visited Siwan town, a local claimed that he attracted sizable crowds.

According to one story, Natwarlal once traveled to Bangra to use his loot to organize a huge feast for the entire community. He provided each poor villager with 100 rupees during the feast .

Natwarlal received significant punishments for many of his high-profile crimes, and the length of his prison term grew with time. Natwarlal was charged with 14 counts of forgery in Bihar alone and received a 113-year prison term.

It is estimated that he only served 20 years in prison during his lifetime as a result of his numerous escape attempts.

Natwarlal was detained nine or ten times, but he managed to escape most of the time. His escapes were frequently exceedingly crafty. For instance, Natwarlal fled the Kanpur jail in 1957 by dressing in a smuggled police uniform, paying off the guards in his cell with a bag full of cash, and then leaving the building while guards saluted him. Newspapers were indeed in the suitcase.

At the age of 84, Natwarlal was last detained in 1996. He was transported by police from the Kanpur jail to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi for treatment, but he managed to escape again despite his advanced age and use of a wheelchair.

He was last seen by authorities on June 24, 1996, at the New Delhi railway station, and he was never seen again. Natwarlal’s brother later asserted that he was cremated in Ranchi in 1996, the year he last eluded capture. This makes it difficult to determine his exact date of passing.

Natwarlal’s attorney asked for the dismissal of more than 100 charges against him in 2009, stating that Natwarlal passed away on July 25, 2009.

He was married twice. He left one daughter behind.

In Indian history, Natwarlal is regarded as the greatest con artist. In India, con artists who pull off extremely cunning scams are frequently referred to as Natwarlal, and many Indian con artists claim that his career served as an inspiration.

His activities have been compared to those of Victor Lustig and Frank Abagnale. The residents of Bangra are proud that he was born and raised there. At the location of Natwarlal’s former home, the community intended to erect a statue of him in 2011.

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Written by Chittaranjan Panda
Dr. Chittaranjan Panda is a distinguished medical professional with a passion for spreading knowledge and empowering individuals to make informed health and wellness decisions. With a background in Pathology, Dr. Chittaranjan Panda has dedicated his career to unraveling the complexities of the human body and translating medical jargon into easily understandable concepts for the general public. Profile

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