Kochi: Kochi City Police has registered a case of cheating and criminal conspiracy against mentalist Aathi and film director Jis Joy on a complaint alleging that ₹35 lakh was taken by deception in the name of a mentalism programme titled ‘Insomnia’. The complainant is Kochi native V J Mathew.

Mentalist Aathi, whose real name is Adarsh Kolladath, is the first accused, while director Jis Joy is the fourth accused. Mithun and Arun, co-producers of the ‘Insomnia’ programme, are the second and third accused. Jis Joy was the director of the programme.

As per the complaint, the accused had promised that if money was invested in the mentalism programme, the invested amount along with one-third profit would be returned. Believing their words, the complainant initially transferred ₹23 lakh into two accounts, followed later by another ₹12 lakh, it added.