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Long-awaited Punjab trip leaves Rajasthan vegetable seller richer by Rs 11 crore as he wins state Diwali Bumper jackpot

Amit Sehra, who could hardly afford a trip to Punjab, finally managed to visit the state with a friend’s help last month, not realising at the time that the journey would change his life for the better.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 7, 2025 10:22 AM IST

Amit Sehra and his family after winning the lottery. (Express photo)

The 38-year-old vegetable seller from Kotputli in Rajasthan had not imagined in his wildest dreams that his love for Punjab would end up leaving him flush with money. Amit Sehra, who has been selling vegetables on a cart all his life to earn Rs 400-500 per day, hit a jackpot of Rs 11 crore when the winning number of the Punjab State Diwali Bumper 2025 was announced.

The trip that turned things around

Sehra had visited Punjab’s Moga with his friend Mukesh Sen on October 16. “I always wanted to visit Punjab, the land of Gurus and large-hearted people. I had told my friend that I would never be able to visit the place with my meagre resources. He then took me along to meet his uncle. On our way back to Rajasthan the next day, we halted for tea at Bathinda. I came across Rattan Lottery Stall and told my friend that I wanted to purchase a lottery ticket, but I had no money. He was kind enough to lend me Rs 1,000 that day. He asked me to buy two tickets. I did.”

Sehra clicked pictures of the ticket and sent them to Sen’s phone. “After that, I forgot about the tickets. At 10 pm on October 31, I got a call from Sen. He started congratulating me, saying I had hit a jackpot. He told me that I had not won a lottery worth Rs 1 or 2 crore, but Rs 11 crore. This was not all. I asked my friend to check the second ticket also. We found out that I had won Rs 1,000 on the second ticket.”

Sehra, whose two children study in Class 4, has also been helping the families of his two brothers who had passed away. Now, their children are also staying with us. We do menial jobs to sustain them.”

He staked his claim to the top prize by visiting the Punjab government’s lottery office in Chandigarh on Tuesday. “I will get Rs 7.60 crore after tax deductions. This is what they told me, but they have to verify that I am the person who won the lottery. Once they are able to do so, I will get the money,” said Sehra, who was on his way back to Rajasthan on Wednesday.

“I will give Rs 1 crore to my friend Sen’s daughters. It does not matter how much I will be left with but I will certainly share that much with him. He was kind enough to lend me money and bring me to Punjab again to claim the prize,” he told The Indian Express over the phone.

‘Could not afford journey to claim prize’

Sehra said it took him a few days to reach the state government lottery office as he could not afford the journey. “I have borrowed Rs 8,000 to come to Punjab. I will pay it back once I get the money.”

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Sehra said this is not the first time fortune has favoured him. “My children study in Hans International School in Kotputli, which is a private school of repute. They got admission in this school under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. They will study there for free till middle school. I will spend a part of the money on my children’s education. They will keep studying in this school.”

He also plans to continue as a grocer, “These are my roots. I would like to be humble and remain connected to them. However, I will buy a 500-square-yard plot and build a house as a gift to my wife, who has always insisted that I buy a 100-square-yard plot.”

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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