Sweet Bobby: Who was behind fake account of world's worst catfish?

A highly anticipated Netflix documentary titled Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare is scheduled to explore the story of a woman from West London who was deceived in a catfishing scheme for nearly ten years. It will be available for streaming starting October 16.

The tale, which gained attention in 2021 through a podcast sharing its title, centers around 43-year-old Kirat Assi, who develops feelings for a man she has never actually met, leading to a romantic relationship that lasts ten years.

The event assistant and radio host shared that she “felt completely loved” by Bobby Jandu, as they exchanged personal and often flirtatious messages through text and Skype from 2009 to 2018. However, whenever she asked to meet him in person, Jandu, whom she thought was a heart specialist, always had a reason to decline.

The individual managing the account spun a series of falsehoods to Assi, claiming that her partner had been shot, had a brain tumor, and was currently in a witness protection program in the U.S.

In the trailer for the documentary, Assi shares, "What I experienced is a wild tale. It’s unbelievable—it covers a whole decade of my life."

The documentary takes viewers through a series of surprising developments, showcasing Assi's feelings of emotional manipulation and control from the individual operating the online account. After deciding to enlist the help of a private investigator, Assi was taken aback to find out that the person she had devoted nearly ten years of her emotions to wasn't Bobby Jandu, but rather her own cousin, Simran Bhogal. Bhogal had fabricated a fake profile and built a deceptive circle of close friends to make her false identity seem more convincing to Assi.

So, who exactly is Bobby Jandu, and what has become of Assi and Bhogal since the events unfolded?

Who Is The Real Sweet Bobby?

Even though Assi wasn't actually dating him, the true identity of Sweet Bobby is Bobby Jandu, a cardiologist based in Brighton. Bhogal took on Jandu's identity and falsely claimed that the doctor resided in New York, leading Assi to believe she was in a long-distance emotional connection, completely unaware of Jandu's existence.

Jandu makes an appearance in the documentary, and we get to see his response to the controversy. In the trailer, he states, “I’ve never talked to her at any point in my life.”

What Happened To Kirat Assi Next?

In a recent interview with Sky News promoting the documentary, Assi expressed that she has returned to her energetic and vibrant self and is embracing the dating scene once more. Nonetheless, her journey hasn't been easy; Assi revealed that she has endured a wave of online harassment, bullying, and “victim-shaming” ever since the podcast sharing her story gained widespread attention.

"The individual responsible should face the consequences. I can't take the blame for exposing the situation. I've had to prioritize what is best for myself," she stated.

It came to light that Simran Bhogal, Assi’s cousin, was the one operating the fake account. In addition to being family, Assi mentioned that Bhogal was a dear friend who frequently stood by her during tough times, especially when she faced difficulties in her relationship with Jandu.

Assi shared with Sky News that she hasn't had any contact with her cousin since revealing that she was responsible for the account. She reported the situation to the police in 2018, but no charges were filed against Bhogal, and the case was closed a year later. However, due to growing interest in the story recently, it seems that the investigation has been reopened.

What's Simran Bhogal Up To These Days?

As reported by Bustle, while the podcast team was conducting their research, they managed to track down Bhogal and make contact with her, though it's unclear whether she replied. Meanwhile, MailOnline mentioned that she was residing in north-west London with her family during that year.

During the podcast, it comes to light that Bhogal held a vice president position at a major British bank. “You’d recognize the name,” the host, journalist Alexi Mostrous, mentions. “And it was quite significant.”

Even though the podcast doesn't reveal the name of the bank, users on Reddit suggested that it was Barclays. This speculation appears to be backed up by a 2018 post on X by the recruitment platform Talent Ticker, which states, "Barclays promotes Simran Bhogal to Vice President, COO & Finance Business Partner."

The podcast mentions that Bhogal has quit her job, but there's little information available about what she’s doing now or any other aspects of her life. It seems she doesn't have any social media accounts either.