Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for compelling narratives, Sweet Bobby has left an indelible mark on my cinematic journey. This gripping tale of deception, resilience, and the human spirit’s capacity to endure is one that resonates deeply, not only because of its captivating storytelling but also due to the profound impact it has had on its protagonist, Kirat Assi.


It all began with a seemingly innocent friend request and a message.

Upon learning from Kirat Assi, a friend-of-friend, Bobby Jandu didn’t find anything unusual. However, what followed was an extraordinary 10-year ordeal marked by catfishing, manipulative behavior, and a stunning revelation unlike any other.

Netflix’s latest documentary, “Sweet Bobby,” narrates the tale of Kirat and how she spent years ensnared in an online relationship with someone she believed was a male acquaintance, only to discover that he was actually her female relative.

She recognized the harm she was inflicting, as well as the discomfort she was inducing. However, she decided against taking any corrective action.

It seems crucial for everyone’s understanding to learn about such actions being performed by an individual. I believe this knowledge is essential for all of us.

Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

Originally aired as a podcast titled “Sweet Bobby” on Tortoise in 2021, it featured conversations with Kirat and others ensnared in a complex network of deception, as journalist Alexi Mostrous pursued one of the globe’s masterful catfishers.

Kirat recounts how she hadn’t realised how popular the podcast was going to become.

She explains, “I hadn’t expected anything to develop with it initially, but the first few episodes took an unexpected turn and became quite chaotic.” At that point, she adds, “it felt like a whirlwind of events unfolding.

Following the triumph of her podcast, numerous production companies expressed interest in narrating Kirat’s tale; however, it was eventually Netflix who took up the opportunity.

Simply put, we’re aiming to reach more people with the narrative. Many individuals don’t engage with podcasts, but if our effort encourages more voices to be heard and fought for, particularly in situations where they are not believed, then that’s truly significant.

In the documentary, Kirat’s tale unfolds using her own voice. The audience witnesses the predicament that Kirat and several members of her family faced.

Throughout the span of their decades-long friendship, Kirat and Bobby had never crossed paths due to recurring reasons that prevented their meeting.

Kirat learns that Bobby was wounded by a gunshot in Kenya and entered the witness protection program, which prevents them from communicating with her directly. However, a new Facebook account appears, and Bobby starts messaging Kirat once more.

In the near future, they plan to tie the knot, but there’s an unresolved matter: it appears that Bobby is still under the protection program in New York City, and Kirat has yet to meet him personally.

However, her hope endures – her cousin Simran ventures to New York and manages to find a T-shirt belonging to Bobby, which she then passes on to Kirat. This gives Kirat reason to think that Bobby truly exists.

And he is, he’s just not who Kirat thinks he is.

The situation reaches its climax when Bobby arrives back in London, and Kirat goes to the hotel where he’s supposedly residing; however, there’s no one named Bobby Jandu found at that hotel.

Following repeated exchanges, Kirat grows wary and engages a private detective to uncover Bobby’s true residence. This leads her to a house in Brighton.

Without realizing it, Kirat found herself confronting the genuine Bobby. However, unlike the one she knew, this man wasn’t familiar with Kirat, hadn’t been hiding as part of a witness protection program, and was definitely not romantically involved with her.

Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

Only when Kirat faced the person she believed she’d been communicating with for so long did she discover the real facts.

In truth, it was Simran Bhogal, her cousin, who pretended to be Bobby and tricked Kirat into a sham romance by assuming his identity.

Following the discovery of the person involved in a intricate catfishing incident, Kirat shared this information with the authorities. However, she was informed that she herself was not the intended victim, but instead, the true identity was revealed to be Bobby.

2020 saw Kirat successfully claim a significant amount in a civil lawsuit against Simran, alleging harassment, unauthorized use of private details, and violations of data privacy regulations.

Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

Kirat believes there needs to be more training within the police to tackle cyber crimes.

In my perspective, if you’re suggesting that the law is there to handle such offenses, then it would be beneficial for us to master its application, particularly in the context of the police force.

It’s important to determine if the communications are harmful or malicious, if they constitute cyberstalking, or if any offline crimes are being carried out using online platforms, for which perpetrators could potentially face charges.

I firmly believe that if the issue had been given the attention it deserved right from the start, none of these subsequent events – like the podcast or documentary – would have been necessary.

Since then, Kirat’s situation has been forwarded to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and they are hopeful that fairness will prevail in this matter.

Sweet Bobby’s Kirat Assi on her fight for justice after decade-long catfishing ordeal

Simran was invited to appear in a Netflix documentary, but she chose not to participate. In a statement issued by her, she explained that the subject matter “originated from incidents during her time as a high school student.

She views it as a personal issue and vehemently disagrees with the numerous, unproven allegations she deems harmful.

In regards to the podcast discussion, Simran’s legal team delivered a statement on her behalf stating: “This issue stems from a prolonged family disagreement originating from incidents dating back over a decade, when Simran was still in high school. In my view, this is a personal family matter that has been settled and I prefer to keep it private.

I firmly oppose the many baseless and harmful allegations against me, along with personal information that has been leaked to the press.

As for life beyond Sweet Bobby, Kirat has been adapting to “a new normal”.

She clarifies that she’s been barely active on her networks for quite some time, almost vanishing completely. She expresses that for the past three to four years, she didn’t feel like herself – it was as if she hadn’t been true to her personal identity.

She notes: “It’s crucial to rediscover yourself and your connections with others, as this journey helps you identify genuine friends from those who merely pretended. Through this experience, you gain much insight.

Along with this, Kirat is also navigating life with her ordeal being attached to her in her future.

I also wish that individuals would find courage to query me about things they’re uncertain of, instead of jumping to conclusions.

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2024-10-16 12:04