A harrowing case of predatory private financing, extortionate interest rates, asset seizure, and intimidation has surfaced from the Kotwali police station jurisdiction in Nagaur, Rajasthan. Premprakash Bihani, a 54-year-old resident of Vyas Colony and son of the late Mangilal, found himself caught in an aggressive trap laid by local creditors. The relentless harassment pushed him to an attempt on his own life last month. Following medical recovery, an official police complaint was lodged, prompting authorities to register a case under Sections 318(4) and 316(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to bring the culprits to book.
Commercial Ruin Led to Borrowing for New Livelihood
According to Premprakash Bihani, he was once running an extensive trade in fenugreek and betel leaves. A sharp downturn in business, however, caused massive financial losses, forcing him to liquidate his residential property, plots, and other possessions. In a bid to sustain his household and set up a modest fast-food outlet, he turned to informal financiers in the locality, borrowing a sum between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 16 lakh. His debts included Rs 11 lakh from Laxman Gaur, Rs 8.50 lakh from Arjun Gaur, Rs 1.50 lakh from Akash Tiwari, Rs 4 lakh from Nikhil Kachhawa, and Rs 9 lakh from Pawan Soni.
Pledged Ornaments Withheld as Bullion Prices Surged
As collateral for the finances, Bihani had provided blank cheques to Nikhil Kachhawa and deposited approximately 6 tolas of gold jewellery with Pawan Soni. The pawned valuables comprised a necklace, a gold chain, seven bangles, a mangalsutra, a pendant, earrings, and a bracelet. Out of the Rs 9 lakh taken from Pawan Soni, the victim had already reimbursed Rs 6 lakh. Nevertheless, Soni outright refused to release the jewellery. With market prices of gold climbing steeply, the lenders became greedy, piling compounding interest upon interest to inflate the liability to between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 60 lakh while demanding a tenfold recovery.
Forced Signatures on Blank Sheets and Death Threats
The victim further alleged that Rajesh Sankhla and Lokesh Sankhla deceitfully summoned him to the local court premises. Once there, they coerced him into signing blank sheets of paper without permitting him to review any contents. This was followed by recurring threatening phone calls warning him of death and property eviction if he ever approached law enforcement agencies. Terrorized by these continuous intimidations, Bihani found it virtually impossible even to step out of his residence.
Hospitalisation in Jodhpur Followed by Official FIR
Crushed by unrelenting psychological torment and public humiliation, Bihani attempted suicide on 23 August. Alert family members rushed him to a medical facility in Jodhpur for urgent treatment, where he survived. He remains under psychiatric care and medication for severe depression. Because the family was preoccupied with his medical emergency, registering a police report took time. Once his condition stabilized, he visited the police station in person on 25 September to recount his ordeal. Kotwali station house officer Nandlal Rinwa affirmed that while Bihani had made intermittent repayments, the lenders extorted exorbitant interest ranging between 10 and 20 percent. The case has been handed over to ASI Ramkailash for investigation, and police stated that evidence is being gathered to arrest Laxman Gaur, Arjun Gaur, Nikhil Kachhawa, Pawan Soni, Rajesh Sankhla, Lokesh Sankhla, and Akash Tiwari.
