As a seasoned viewer of true crime documentaries and podcasts, I must say that Sweet Bobby has left me utterly spellbound. The tale of Kirat Assi and her harrowing 10-year ordeal at the hands of a masterful catfisher is one for the ages.
It all began with a seemingly innocent friend request and a message.
When Bobby Jandu heard from Kirat Assi, with whom she shared mutual friends, it felt like nothing out of the ordinary. But it soon became 10 years of catfishing, coercive control and a shocking truth like no other.
I recently found myself captivated by Netflix’s latest documentary, Sweet Bobby. It narrates a heartrending tale that unfolds around Kirat, a woman who, unbeknownst to her, squandered precious years of her life in an online relationship with someone she believed was a man, only to discover later on that this individual was none other than her female cousin.
She clearly understood the harm she was inflicting, as well as the anguish she was provoking. Yet, she decided not to act otherwise.
It seems crucial for everyone’s understanding to discover how a single individual could accomplish such an act. I believe this knowledge is essential for all of us.
Back in 2021, I stumbled upon an intriguing podcast titled “Sweet Bobby,” broadcasted by Tortoise. This captivating series featured extensive interviews with Kirat and various others entangled in a mesmerizing tangle of deceit, as investigative journalist Alexi Mostrous traced the steps of one of the world’s most cunning catfishers.
Kirat recounts how she hadn’t realised how popular the podcast was going to become.
She mentions, “I hadn’t expected anything significant from it until the initial few episodes turned out to be quite wild. It was quite a rollercoaster ride during that period.
Following the podcast’s triumph, various production firms expressed interest in sharing Kirat’s tale. However, it was eventually Netflix who took up the opportunity.
We’re simply making the narrative more accessible to a larger group. Many individuals may not engage with podcasts, but if this encourages more voices to be heard and fought for, especially in situations where they are not believed, then that’s what truly counts.
In the documentary, Kirat’s narrative unfolds as she speaks. The audience witnesses the struggles that Kirat and several of her kin experienced, which ultimately led them to become victims.
Throughout the span of their decades-long friendship, Kirat and Bobby had never encountered each other face-to-face. Bobby was always provided with reasons explaining why they couldn’t meet.
Kirat learns that Bobby was wounded by a gunshot in Kenya and entered the witness protection program, effectively cutting off their communication. However, a new Facebook account surfaces, and Bobby starts sending messages to Kirat once more.
In a short while, the couple plans to tie the knot; however, an unresolved matter persists: it appears that Bobby is currently under witness protection in New York City, and they have yet to meet each other.
Nevertheless, her faith persists – her cousin Simran journeys to New York, manages to find one of Bobby’s T-shirts, and presents it to Kirat, thereby enabling her 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 pays a visit to the hotel where he’s supposedly residing. However, upon arrival, there’s no one named Bobby Jandu present.
Following several exchanges, Kirat grows wary and decides to employ a private detective to uncover Bobby’s true residence, leading her to a house in Brighton.
In a blink of an eye, Kirat found herself standing right across from the genuine Bobby. However, this Bobby didn’t recognize Kirat at all, wasn’t involved with any witness protection program, and had no romantic ties with her.
After facing the person she believed she’d been exchanging messages with for so long, it wasn’t until then that Kirat uncovered the real truth.
In truth, it was actually Simran Bhogal, her cousin, who had assumed Bobby’s identity to deceive Kirat into a fictitious romance.
Upon discovering the identity of the person orchestrating such an intricate catfishing scheme, Kirat shared this information with the authorities. However, she was informed that she herself wasn’t the actual victim, but rather, the true identity of the person she knew as Bobby came to light.
2020 saw Kirat successfully claim a significant compensation in a civil lawsuit filed against Simran, alleging harassment, unauthorized use of confidential information, and violations of data privacy regulations.
Kirat believes there needs to be more training within the police to tackle cyber crimes.
She remarks, “If you’re implying that the law is meant to handle such offenses, then familiarize yourself with its application, regarding the police.
It’s important to determine if the communication is harmful or criminal in nature, such as harassment, stalking, or any other offenses punishable by law within the digital realm.
She suggests that if the initial report had been given due importance, neither the podcast nor the documentary about the incident would have been necessary.
Since then, Kirat’s situation has been forwarded to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and Kirat is hopeful that fairness will prevail.
Simran turned down an offer from Netflix to participate in their documentary, as the subject matter pertains to incidents that started during her school years.
She views this issue as personal and firmly disagrees with the many allegations, which she calls ‘unsubstantiated’ and potentially harmful.
In reaction to the podcast, the creators received a communication from Simran through her legal representatives, stating: “This issue revolves around a family disagreement stemming from incidents dating back more than a decade, when Simran was still in school. To me, this is a private family issue that has been settled.
I firmly oppose the many baseless and harmful slurs that have been hurled at me, in addition to sensitive information being leaked to the press regarding my personal life.
As for life beyond Sweet Bobby, Kirat has been adapting to “a new normal”.
She clarifies that she’s been largely absent from her social networks over the past few years, almost completely disappearing. She admits that she didn’t feel like herself during this period, not embodying the person she truly is.
She notes: “It’s essential for you to rediscover your footing and your true connections, as this experience will reveal who genuinely cares for you and who may have just been pretending. You stand to learn a great deal.
Along with this, Kirat is also navigating life with her ordeal being attached to her in her future.
I wish folks would find the courage to ask questions when they’re unclear, instead of jumping to conclusions.
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2024-10-16 11:04