Catfishing scams have become all too common in our world of digital media and online dating. Netflix’sSweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmareserves as a harrowing reminder of how easily trust can be manipulated in the digital age. Based on a real-life case that shocked audiences in the UK and beyond,Sweet Bobbytells the harrowing story of Kirat Assi, a successful London-based radio presenter who became the victim of one of themost elaborate and disturbing catfishing scamsever documented.
This emotionally charged documentary dives deep into the psychological manipulation, betrayal, and fallout that defined Kirat’s experience. It explores not only the personal trauma she endured but also the larger questions around online identity, consent, and justice in the digital era. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear thatthis wasn’t just a case of mistaken identity — it was a calculated campaign of control and abuse, carried out by someone shockingly close to Kirat.
What Happened To Kirat Assi, Explained
She Developed An Online Relationship With A Man Named Bobby Jandu
Sweet Bobbytells the story of how Kirat Assi was catfished by a person posing as a man named Bobby Jandu. The story started in 2009, after Assi’s cousin, Simran Bhogal, came into the picture. Bhogal’s boyfriend, JJ, and she had recently split. JJ then sought out Assi’s advice about how to win Bhogal back. However, JJ suddenly died from an allergic reaction, and Bhogal gave Assi the contact information for JJ’s brother, Bobby Jandu, to send her condolences.
Soon enough, Assi accepted a friend request from Bobby Jandu, a cardiologist based in Kenya, on the basis that they had many mutual friends from London’s Sikh community.Their relationship quickly evolved from a friendship to a romance, despite numerous red flags.
Whenever Assi asked to meet Jandu in person, he would make up some excuse not to meet face to face.
Whenever Assi asked to meet Jandu in person, he would make up some excuse not to meet face to face. Jandu had apparently faced multiple life-threatening illnesses and couldn’t travel to London. The couple even went so far as to get engaged, even though they had never met in person.
However, things took a dark turn when Assi and Jandu’s relationship became abusive, with Jandu attempting to control every aspect of Assi’s life and monitor her at all times. He would insist on a video chat — despite never turning on his own camera — and would grow angry with Assi if she wasn’t sitting at home in her room.
The Fallout From The Catfishing Scheme
Assi Took Bhogal To Court
After being in a romantic relationship with Jandu for three years and never seeing him face to face, Assi hired a private investigator to investigate her partner’s whereabouts. The search led Assi to the doorstep of the real Bobby Jandu, who is a dental surgeon located in Brighton, UK. The real Jandu answered the door but didn’t recognize Assi, and even asked if she was confusing him with his perhaps his supposedly dead brother, JJ.
When Assi first met with the real Jandu, she received a phone call from the person pretending to be him, leaving Assi confused and frustrated. She shared her anger with her cousin, Simran Bhogal. Bhogal verified everything she knew about Assi and Jandu’s relationship. The next day,Bhogal came clean to Assi about pretending to be Jandu.
In the U.K. catfishing is not illegal, so pursuing her case as a police matter proved difficult for Assi, andBhogal has not faced any criminal charges.After a failed police investigation, Assi pursued civil action against her cousin. In 2020, Assi took Bhogal to court for misuse of her private information and data. In 2021, Assi and Bhogal settled their case out of court, with Bhogal paying Assi for “substantial damages”, along with her legal fees. She also issued a personal apology letter to Assi. According toToday, British police have since reopened Assi’s case.
Where Bobby Jandu Is Now
He Lives In Brighton With His Family & Works As A Dental Surgeon
As Kirat Assi discovered, Bobby Jandu is in fact a real person — he’sa dental surgeon who lives in Brighton, UK, with his wife Sanj and two children. So, the information the private investigator gathered was correct — it just didn’t account for catfishing. Ironically, Sanj was also the victim of a catfishing scheme.
Also, Assi had apparently met the real Jandu at a party only a few months into their online relationship, but he didn’t recognize her. Assi chalked up his poor memory to alcohol and a noisy nightclub atmosphere (viaLiverpool Echo). Interestingly, the real Bobby Jandu was interviewed in theSweet Bobbydocumentary, while Assi declined to appear. Jandu continues to live out his life with his family in Brighton.
As for Bhogal, she’s reportedly living with her parents in North West London and keeping a low profile. In 2021, she left her high-powered position as a vice president at Barclays Bank.
What Kirat Assi Says About Her Expreience
Emotions Are Still Raw
Assi is still feeling the fallout from being catfished for nearly 10 years by her cousin. Speaking withGlamour UK,she said:
“I don’t think I’ve stopped living it since it happened, to be honest…. Every step of the way has been an absolute nightmare, that I don’t think I’ve ever stopped reliving it.”
Bhogal also declined to participate in the documentary. Her attorneys gave the following statement to Tortoise Media, the company that producedMy Sweet Bobby (viaForbes):
“This matter concerns a family dispute over events that began over a decade ago when I was a school girl. As far as I am concerned, this is a private family matter that has been resolved, and I strongly object to the numerous unfounded and seriously defamatory accusations that have been made about me, as well as details of private matters that have been shared with the media.”
Assi has said that she’s not interested in retribution, but in her cousin taking responsibility for her actions. She has also urged people not to track down Bhogal or her family, saying (viaHello!),
“Someone hunting her down, her family down, even if I’m not talking to that part of my family, they’re still family. Whatever that person’s done, their parents didn’t do it, and they have to suffer. We’re all suffering as a family and a community. By people trying to do that online, you’re no better than what she did. Let’s put the pressure on the right people to do the right thing… But don’t go around causing harm and hurt to people because it’s hard enough for all of us anyway.”
Kirat Assi no longer works as a radio host, and is now running a marketing company. She is interested in changing British laws around catfishing after going through years of torment from her cousin, as documented inSweet Bobby.
