Taking a decisive step towards making the city beggar-free, Bhopal police registered the first FIR against both a beggar and an almsgiver under a new ban issued by the District Collector. The case was lodged at MP Nagar police station on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
The crackdown follows the Bhopal District Collector’s order, issued on February 3, which prohibits both begging and giving alms in the city.
First FIR Under the Ban
According to MP Nagar police station in-charge, Jaihind Sharma, a special monitoring team was deployed to enforce the order. On February 12, a team member witnessed an individual giving alms to a beggar at Board Office Square. The individuals fled the scene, but complainant Mohan Soni, part of the monitoring team, reported the incident to the police, leading to the FIR.
“On February 3, Bhopal Collector issued an order prohibiting begging in the city and instructed action against both almsgivers and beggars. A special team was formed to oversee implementation. On February 12, the complainant, Mohan Soni, spotted a person giving alms at Board Office Square. When he attempted to stop them, they ran away. Following this, Soni registered a complaint, leading to an FIR,” Sharma told media.
Authorities are now using vehicle registration details to trace the almsgiver, who will be taken into custody, he added.
Legal Framework Behind the Ban
Earlier this month, Bhopal Collector Kaushlendra Vikram Singh issued the prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sahita (BNSS) 2023, which grants officials the power to issue orders in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger. Violators will face legal action under Section 223 of BNSS, 2023.
Statewide Efforts Towards a Beggar-Free Madhya Pradesh
The move aligns with broader efforts across Madhya Pradesh to curb begging. Indore, which banned begging starting January 1, 2025, has already conducted surveys, revealing that many beggars own permanent houses or have children with stable jobs. The administration aims to crack down on organized begging and anti-social activities.
At the national level, the central government has launched a pilot project to create beggar-free cities in 10 major urban centers, including Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai.
The Bhopal administration has emphasized that the ban is not merely punitive but aims to rehabilitate beggars by providing access to shelter homes and skill development programs.