Exploring Simran Bhogal’s Motives for Catfishing Kirat Assi as Bobby Jandu

The new Netflix documentary, Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, delves into the intriguing catfishing saga involving Simran Bhogal, who deceived her cousin Kirat Assi by posing as a doctor named Bobby Jandu—a false persona she concocted with the help of her romantic partner. This elaborate hoax persisted for an astonishing nine years before Bhogal’s true identity was uncovered.

Several aspects of the case remain unclear, particularly the underlying reasons for Bhogal’s actions against her own cousin. While she provided an explanation during a private conversation, as stipulated in their legal agreement, Kirat believes Bhogal sought to exert dominance over her. This desire for control may have stemmed from a need to manipulate another woman, and could also represent a form of escapism from her own reality.

The true motivations behind Bhogal’s lengthy deception might always remain elusive. Nevertheless, there are insights into what she may have derived from orchestrating such an intricate scheme against her kin.

Kirat Assi suspects her cousin reveled in the dominance

It appears that one of the fundamental reasons Simran Bhogal engaged in this charade was her enjoyment of the power dynamic with her cousin. Kirat described how, towards the end of their fabricated “relationship,”the imposter Bobby pushed her into actions that made her uncomfortable.

Kirat alleged that the fake Bobby attempted to undermine her independence, made her feel guilty for engaging in outdoor activities, and even distanced her from her friends and family. The deceptive persona posed hypothetical scenarios that seemed deliberately crafted to inflict emotional distress.

As Kirat recounted, this coercive and manipulative behavior continued until she no longer recognized herself. This pattern of catfishing strongly suggests that, for Simran Bhogal, it was fundamentally about asserting power.

Simran Bhogal purportedly sought an escape from reality

Upon unearthing the catfishing incident, Kirat Assi promptly initiated a civil lawsuit against Bhogal, which ultimately concluded with a victory for Assi and a significant financial settlement. Among the settlement terms was a private apology from Bhogal, the details of which were not to be disclosed.

During this apology, Bhogal allegedly shared her reasoning for her actions. However, Kirat could only divulge a portion of this information during a podcast hosted by Alexi Mostrous. In that discussion, Kirat revealed that Bhogal claimed both of them were enduring difficult times and that their online fantasy relationship provided a much-needed escape. Kirat quoted her cousin’s belief:

“She honestly believed we were both in a dark place and living in this alternative reality or this fantasy world that she created was bringing us both some kind of happiness or joy.”

Despite this narrative, Kirat remained skeptical, contending instead that Bhogal’s motivations were rooted in entertainment and manipulation rather than any genuine desire to provide comfort.

A psychologist later weighed in, lending some credence to the escapism theory, suggesting that Bhogal may have sought to experience a life beyond her reach.

Ultimately, years after the tumultuous events, Kirat Assi no longer seeks an explanation from her cousin. What she desires instead is justice for the wrongdoing committed against her, and she is still pursuing appropriate consequences for Bhogal today.

Netflix’s Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare meticulously investigates this captivating case in depth.

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