Bollywood actor Disha Patani’s father, Jagdish Singh Patani, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), was allegedly defrauded of ₹25 lakh by a group of conmen who promised him a high-ranking position in a government commission. The fraud unfolded in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, where Patani lodged a formal complaint with the local police, leading to the registration of an FIR on Friday.
The accused individuals, five in total, reportedly made false claims to Patani about their political connections and the promise of securing a prestigious position for him, such as a chairman or vice-chairman role. The main accused, Shivendra Pratap Singh, a person Patani knew personally, introduced him to the other members of the group — Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash from Juna Akhara, and Preeti Garg, along with an unidentified accomplice.
According to police officials, the fraudsters initially took ₹25 lakh from Patani: ₹5 lakh in cash and ₹20 lakh through transfers to three different bank accounts. Over the next three months, however, there was no progress in the promised deal. When Patani pressed the accused for updates, they claimed that they would return the money with interest. However, instead of fulfilling their promises, the conmen began issuing threats and resorting to aggressive behavior when Patani demanded his money back.
The police have registered a case against the accused under various sections, including cheating, criminal intimidation, and extortion. The authorities are actively working on tracking down the perpetrators and have vowed to take strict legal action.
Patani, who resides in Bareilly’s Civil Lines area, eventually grew suspicious of the entire operation and realized he had fallen victim to a larger fraud. As a result, he filed the complaint with the Kotwali police station, which has since initiated an investigation. Police officials stated that they are taking this matter seriously and will ensure that the accused are apprehended.
This case highlights the growing concerns surrounding fraudulent schemes, particularly those that target individuals with significant social or professional standing. With law enforcement actively pursuing the conmen, authorities hope to bring an end to the ongoing scam and prevent similar incidents from occurring.
Sources By Agencies