Man Regrets Winning RM14M Jackpot Because People Keep Asking Him For Financial Help
Anoop couldn't even take his son to the clinic because strangers would follow him and ask for money.
By Aqasha Nur’aiman — 03 Oct 2022, 12:09 PM
While most people would be overjoyed, thrilled, and grateful, an Indian man regretted winning the lottery because he kept receiving an overwhelming number of financial help requests from strangers
Anoop, a lucky man from the southern Indian state of Kerala, made national headlines in September when he won 250 million rupees (RM14 million), the highest amount ever offered in the state for a lottery, reported BBC.
After just one week, however, he uploaded a Facebook video begging strangers to stop bothering him and his family for financial aid.
He explained in the video that the situation had gotten so out of hand that he couldn't even take his son to the clinic when he became ill without being followed by strangers who asked him for money.
Anoop is considering moving his whole family to a different house to escape the overwhelming public attention
He said that after the news broke out that he had won, people would show up at his house every morning.
Aside from strangers, Anoop's phone was also flooded with calls from friends and family, reported India Times.
"All I can tell everyone is that I haven't gotten any money yet. No one seems to understand my problem, no matter how many times I say it," Anoop lamented.
"I have lost all peace of mind and I can't even reside in my own home as I am besieged with people who come calling to ask me to sort out various needs of theirs as I have won the first prize."
To avoid the public, Anoop and his family had to stay at a relative's house.
Anoop was initially ecstatic when he hit the jackpot because of all the publicity
"There were people and cameras at the house and we were happy," he said.
Anoop now wishes he had not won the grand prize and said that winning the third prize would have been better.
Prior to his win, Anoop was struggling financially as an autorickshaw driver and had to break open his son's piggybank to purchase a plane ticket to Malaysia for a job offer as a chef, reported Mint.
When asked what he plans to do with the lottery win, he stated that his first priority is to build a house for his family and pay off his debts.
Aside from that, he wants to assist his relatives, perform charitable work, and start a business in the hospitality industry in Kerala.
