Sushil Kumar and wife Seema with Amitabh Bachchan after his KBC win. (Fotocorp)

Motihari, Oct. 25: KBC has found its crorepati, five times over.

Sushil Kumar, a 29-year-old computer operator from this historic town, created television history today when he won Rs 5 crore in the fifth season of Kaun Banega Crorepati, the quiz show hosted by Amitabh Bachchan.

Third of five sons of Amar Nath Patel of Hanumangarhi locality near Henry Bazar area of the town, Sushil, who has a master’s degree in psychology, is a contractual employee in a state government department. He is at present working as a computer operator with the MNREGA project in the District Rural Development Authority, posted at Chanpatia block in West Champaran district.

Sushil, who also gives computer lessons to children, wants to use the winning amount to rebuild his dilapidated house in Motihari, the birthplace of author George Orwell and the place from where Mahatma Gandhi began his satyagraha movement.

Relatives of Sushil said the young man was studious since childhood and inquisitive by nature and read up anything that came his way.

Cousin Sanjay Kumar Singh said Sushil was first informed about his selection for KBC on October 17. Two days later, an audition team reached Motihari to prepare the video clip on him. Sushil, who got married in May this year, left for Mumbai with wife Seema and two of his brothers on October 23.

He came through the “fastest finger first” round yesterday to reach the hot seat and ended the day as a roll-over contestant. Sushil, his cousin said, was in touch with Motihari till around 1pm today when on his ninth question, for Rs 1 crore, he sought the help of a local teacher, Shyamji Prasad, who was his choice for the phone-a-friend lifeline.

The maximum prize money in the first three seasons of KBC was Rs 1 crore. The amount was raised to Rs 5 crore in the fourth season, but no one could win it. The maximum amount won in the fourth season was Rs 1 crore by Rahat Tasleem of Giridih (Jharkhand).

Local residents said they were proud of Sushil, who, they felt, “would bring back glory to Motihari”, now notorious for its many kidnap and extortion gangs. “The family of limited financial means has been blessed with a rare gift from destiny this Diwali,” said a neighbour, who said he would not wish to be named.