Chandigarh: A Chandigarh rally driver with "no idea about the stock market" recently made a startling discovery while rummaging through old family papers—share certificates from Reliance Industries that have multiplied in value to over ₹12 lakh over three decades.
Rattan Dhillon, who identifies as an auto enthusiast, took to X (formerly Twitter) with images of two yellowing share certificates issued by Reliance Industries in February 1987 and December 1992 for 20 and 10 shares respectively. His straightforward question to the online community: "Can someone with expertise guide us on whether we still own these shares?"
The certificates, issued when Reliance was still under founder Dhirubhai Ambani's leadership, represented a modest initial investment that time has transformed into a substantial sum. According to calculations shared by a fellow X user, these 30 original shares would now equal approximately 960 shares after three stock splits and two bonus issues over the decades.
Read the tweet here: https://x.com/ShivrattanDhil1/status/1899303668995797249
At Reliance's Wednesday closing price, this forgotten investment has blossomed to over ₹12 lakh in value—a textbook example of the wealth-building power of India's largest company by market capitalization, now helmed by Asia's richest man Mukesh Ambani.
The Investor Education and Protection Fund Authority (IEPFA) quickly responded to Dhillon's query, noting that his shares may have been transferred to the government fund if they remained unclaimed for the statutory period. The authority directed him to their online search facility to verify the status of his holdings.
When Dhillon reported that his search yielded no results, IEPFA requested his folio number and contact information, suggesting his case would receive individual attention—highlighting the government's improved systems for reconnecting investors with unclaimed financial assets.
The discovery sparked a range of reactions from social media users. "Bhai, you are a lakhpati now," remarked one user, while another jokingly suggested Dhillon continue searching his home for potentially lucrative MRF shares as well.
One particularly insightful comment advised Dhillon against converting the shares to electronic format, suggesting he maintain them in physical form to "resist temptation to sell" over the short term. This advice underscores the investing wisdom that has made many Reliance shareholders wealthy over generations—patience and long-term holding.
Dhillon's unexpected windfall illustrates several key investment lessons: the extraordinary returns possible from quality companies held over decades, the importance of safekeeping financial documents, and how corporate actions like splits and bonuses can multiply share counts substantially over time.
The story also serves as a reminder to countless Indians who may have similar forgotten investments tucked away in old files or inherited from relatives. With IEPFA holding thousands of crores in unclaimed dividends, shares and matured deposits, Dhillon's discovery might inspire others to search for their own financial treasures.
