Mithilesh kumar srivastava, better known as Natwarlal (1912-2009), was a noted indian con man known for having repeatedly "sold"the Taj mahal, the Red fort and the rashtrapati bhavan nad also the parliament house of india along with its 545 sitting members. He was a living-legend in his lifetime and a legend even after his death.

He was born in bangra village in siwan district of bihar, by profession he was a lawyer before he turned into a conman.

He had duped hundreds of people of crores of rupees and used more than 50 aliases to disguise himself. He was a master of disguises and novel ideas to cheat and was also a master in forging signatures of famous personalities.He is also said to have cheated number of industrialists including the Tatas, the Birlas and also Dhirubhai ambani taking from them huge money in cash, posing as social worker or needy person. Also had duped many shop-owners with lakhs of rupees, paying them by cheque and demand draft, which were later to forged.

Natwarlal was wanted in more than 100 cases and he was wanted by 8 states police and sentenced to 113 years in prison. However, he made daring escape from different jails eight times in his life.

Natwarlal was arrested nine times but every time was able to break out of jail and run away. The last time he was arrested was in 1996 and was 84 years old that time. But he managed to again give the police a slip and was last seen by authorities on june 24, 1996 when the wheelchair-using octogenarian vanished while being transported from prison to a hospital for treatment. He disappeared at new delhi railway station, when he was being taken to AIIMS, under police escort from kanpur jail for his treatment, after ehich he was never seen by anyone.

In 2009, his lawyer requested than more than 100 charges pending against Natwarlal be dropped claiming that Natwarlal died on Saturday july 25, 2009. However, Natwarlal's brother, Ganga prasad srivastava, subsequently claimed to have cremated him in 1996 at ranchi so the actual time and the year of death is yet uncertain and to say, in his finest Natwarlal tradition, he "died" twice. 13 years apart, living up to his legend.

He is survived by one daughter, who lives in ranchi and is married to a soldier. His younger brother, Ganga prasad srivastava lives in gopalgunj.

His is exploits are often compared with Frank abagnale and victor lustig
jurm a popular weekly crime based television programme aired by Aaj taj, made episodes on his life and story in 2004.

He is considered to be greatest conman of india and his legend lives on as any conman who pull off particularly smart fraud are called Natwarlal in india and many fraudsters say they got inspired from the life of Natwarlal.