Bareilly:Jagdish Singh Patani, retired Deputy SP and father of Bollywood actress Disha Patani, has become the victim of an alleged Rs 25 lakh fraud. The scam, carried out by a group of five individuals, revolved around promises of a prestigious government position.  

The incident came to light after Patani filed a complaint at the Bareilly Kotwali police station. According to DK Sharma, the station in-charge, an FIR was registered against five individuals—Shivendra Pratap Singh, Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash from Juna Akhara, Preeti Garg, and one unidentified accomplice. The charges include cheating, criminal intimidation, and extortion.  

“Efforts are underway to arrest the accused and ensure strict action,” Sharma stated.  

The elaborate scam  

Jagdish Patani, who resides in Bareilly’s Civil Lines area, alleged that the scam began when Shivendra Pratap Singh, a trusted acquaintance, introduced him to Diwakar Garg and Acharya Jayaprakash. Claiming to have strong political connections, the accused promised Patani a high-ranking position as chairman or vice-chairman in a government commission.  

The group successfully gained Patani’s trust and extorted Rs 25 lakh; Rs 5 lakh in cash and Rs 20 lakh via bank transfers across three accounts. Despite waiting for three months, no progress was made, prompting the accused to promise a refund with interest.

However, when Patani demanded his money back, the situation turned hostile, with threats and aggressive behavior from the accused.  

Fake connections and false promises  

To strengthen their claims, the accused even introduced another accomplice as an "officer on special duty" named Himanshu. This fake persona was used to further mislead Patani about their political connections.  

Realising he had fallen victim to a sophisticated con, Patani suspected the scam could be part of a larger fraud network. He promptly reported the matter to the police, leading to the registration of the FIR.  

The case has gained significant attention due to its connection with Bollywood actress Disha Patani, known for her roles in films like 'Baaghi 2' and 'Malang'. While the actress has not commented on the situation, the incident has added an unexpected twist to her family’s public profile.  

The police are now actively pursuing the accused and are determined to uncover the full extent of the scam.