Why Chittorgarh’s flashiest gold lover is being hunted with a ₹5-cr extortion demand

Chittorgarh’s well-known fruit trader Kanhaiyalal Khatik, popularly called the city’s ‘Bappi Lahiri’ for his obsession with gold jewellery, has alleged that he received a ₹5-crore extortion threat from callers claiming to be part of gangster Rohit Godara’s network.

According to the police, the intimidation began two days ago when Khatik first received a missed call from an unknown number. Later, a WhatsApp call came from the same number.

When he declined to answer, an audio message was sent to his phone, allegedly demanding ₹5 crore and warning him of dire consequences if he failed to pay.

The audio threat was blunt, Khatik told police: He was warned he “would not remain in a condition to wear gold” if he did not comply.

He reportedly received yet another call repeating the demand, after which he lodged a formal complaint at the City Kotwali Police Station. Police are investigating the number’s origin and possible gang links.

Who Is Kanhaiyalal Khatik? The Man Behind the Gold

At 50, Kanhaiyalal Khatik is not merely a businessman—he is a local symbol of rags-to-riches grit.

From Handcart to Apple Tycoon

Khatik began his life selling vegetables on a handcart in Chittorgarh. Gradually, he shifted to the fruit trade, eventually specialising in apple trading, which dramatically boosted his income. As his business expanded across nearby districts, so did his flair for flamboyance.

Why He Is Called ‘Goldman’

Over the years, he developed a fascination for heavy gold jewellery, wearing it daily as part of his identity.

Locals say he often steps out wearing around 3.5 kg of gold—chains, bracelets, rings, and sometimes ornate custom pieces—earning him the citywide nickname ‘Goldman’ as well as ‘Chittorgarh’s Bappi Lahiri’.

His meteoric rise and flashy image, police believe, may have made him a soft target for organised extortion networks.

Who Is Rohit Godara?

Rohit Godara, originally from Bikaner’s Lunakaran village, is a notorious gangster believed to be operating from Canada.

He has over 32 criminal cases registered across India. He is accused of running extortion operations targeting businessmen in Rajasthan.

Godara is also wanted in high-profile cases including the murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala and the killing of gangster Raju Thehat.

He fled India in June 2022 using a fake passport under the name ‘Pawan Kumar’, and is currently under an Interpol Red Notice.

Police say they are treating the threat to Khatik as a serious attempt at extortion and are probing whether the calls originated from abroad or from local associates of the gang.