For Bihar’s most famous family right now, the euphoria of hitting the Kaun Banega Crorepati jackpot of Rs 5 crores has been replaced by annoyance due to constant pestering by finance companies’ agents and fears of abduction.
The family of Sushil Kumar, the first contestant in the TV game show to have won such a big amount, has got very little time to the young computer operator’s huge win.
While there is no end to the streams of wellwishers and bank and insurance agents visiting his house at Henry Bazar in Bihar’s Motihari town, his large joint family is scared the 27-year-old could be abducted. As expectations are rising higher in Motihari and across Bihar for a glimpse of Kumar, his family has kept the date of his return from Mumbai a close secret.
Kumar will bring home nearly Rs 3.5 crores after tax deductions from his prize money.
Bihar police assures safety
“Kumar, his wife Seema Patel and his brother Anil Kumar are likely to return home after November 10 because of several engagements in Mumbai, but there is no confirmation yet,” said Jitendra Kumar, a friend of the KBC winner. About the family’s fears about abduction, he said, “There are, of course, certain fears.”
Despite improvements in governance by Bihar’s Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)-BJP government, crime rates in the state have seen little signs of reduction and East Champaran district, where Motihari is located, still remains infamous for abductions and murders. Superintendent of police Ganesh Kumar, however, allayed any such fears, saying they were baseless.
“The family is in no danger. There cannot be any such fears,” said Motihari MLA Pramod Kumar, who, like thousands others, also wants to meet the luckiest KBC winner on his return from Mumbai.