Discovery of the 6.54-Carat Diamond
A Noida-based construction material supplier, Rana Singh, hit a lucky streak after his leased shallow mine in Panna district, Madhya Pradesh, yielded a sparkling 6.54-carat uncut diamond on June 18, 2025. The gem-quality stone, found during routine digging and sifting in Jaruapur village, is estimated to be worth between Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh in the bullion market. Officials have classified it as a bright variety diamond, expected to fetch a premium price at auction.
Background of the Venture
Singh’s diamond mining journey began nearly six years ago when his driver-cum-manager, Gautam Mistry, a resident of Satna district, informed him about Panna’s unique shallow mine lease system. Intrigued, Singh secured his first lease in July 2020 after multiple attempts. The gamble paid off quickly: the mine produced a 4.57-carat diamond in January 2021, followed by a 9.64-carat diamond in 2022 and an 8.1-carat stone in 2023. However, no major diamonds were recovered in 2024 and 2025 until this latest find.
Family Opposition and Persistence
“Everyone in my family was against this venture. My wife was also angry as I was investing money without any guarantee of success. But I didn’t give up,” Singh told TOI. He credited Mistry for overseeing operations and ensuring compliance with diamond office rules. “Gautam is the most trusted person I have there. He informs me about every stone recovered from the mine and we deposit each one with the diamond office as required under the rules,” Singh added.
Financial Investment and Returns
Singh has invested over Rs 1 crore in mining operations, including lease costs, labour, and excavation expenses. Despite the risks, he stated, “The diamonds we have recovered so far have earned us more than what we have invested.” Proceeds from the latest diamond will be reinvested: “This diamond should fetch a good price. Whatever income comes from it, I will put it back into mining and continue digging for more diamonds,” he said.
Verification and Auction Process
Diamond Inspector Nutan Jain confirmed that the 6.54-carat stone has been deposited at the Panna Diamond Office after verification. According to Mistry, a total of 15 diamonds of varying sizes have been recovered from the mine since operations began, with the latest being among the most valuable. The diamond will be included in the next government auction, where its final value will be determined. After deduction of royalty, taxes, and other statutory charges, the remaining amount will be paid to the leaseholder.
Panna’s Diamond Mining System
Panna is India’s only major diamond-producing region, attracting fortune seekers nationwide. Under the district’s diamond mining regime, the diamond office grants shallow mining leases on government and private land, typically in plots measuring about 8x8 metres. Leaseholders manually excavate and process diamond-bearing gravel, and any diamond recovered must be deposited with the diamond office for valuation and auction.
