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JABALPUR: In a bizarre flash of generosity on Friendship Day last week, a builder ’s teenaged son in Jabalpur distributed Rs 46 lakh of his father’s money among his schoolmates — including a whopping Rs 15 lakh to a daily wager’s son and Rs 3 lakh to a classmate who finished his homework.

One of his friends reportedly bought a new car with the money. The builder’s boy, a Class X student, didn’t leave anyone empty-handed. Around 35 classmates at his school and coaching centre got smartphones, and many others were gifted silver bracelets. The builder had kept Rs 60 lakh in his almirah — proceeds from a recent sale of a property, he told the police.

When he realised the money was missing, he ran to police, who too, were flummoxed initially as there was no sign of a burglary. Investigations revealed that the builder’s son had chanced on the cash and distributed it among friends, classmates and a needy boy in the neighbourhood. Police officers told TOI that they are trying to recover the money.

The boy’s father has given them a list of students, and police are trying to contact all of them. The daily wager’s son is missing ever since he got the bounty. Parents of five students, who got the biggest shares, were summoned by police and were told to return the money in five days. “We have recovered Rs 15 lakh so far and are trying to get back the rest,” SI B S Tomar told TOI.

Asked about the rags-to-riches boy, Tomar said: “We are trying to locate him. His parents have been told to find him and recover the money.” No case has been registered so far as all those involved are minors, he added.

