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Netflix's latest documentary, Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, covers Simran Bhogal's almost decade-long scandal. Bhogal trapped Kirat Assi while pretending to be a doctor named Bobby Jandu, whom she knew through her ex-boyfriend. This catfishing went on for over nine years before Simran Bhogal was finally caught in the act.
A lot of things about this case remain mysterious, including why Simran Bhogal chose to do this to her cousin, Kirat. Though she did explain it to Kirat in private, as per the legal settlement between them, Kirat believed that her cousin did it to have power over her. Apart from the motive of power, where she could control another woman at her will, she was also possibly doing this as a form of escapism.
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The exact motive will perhaps always remain a mystery but there are things that Simran Bhogal may have attained from going over this elaborate scheme of catfishing her cousin.
Kirat Assi still believes her cousin enjoyed the power over her
In what may be the most accurate answer to the question, Simran Bhogal may have done it all simply because she enjoyed the kind of power she had over her cousin. As Assi described, towards the latter part of their "relationship," the fake Bobby coerced her into many things that she did not particularly enjoy.
She also claimed that the fake Bobby tried to control her actions, made her feel bad for being outside, and even made her distant from her friends and family members. The account would also allegedly ask her hypothetical questions that seemed designed to torture her.
Kirat revealed that this controlling and coercive behavior continued till she lost her sense of self. This particular way of catfishing seems to indicate that it was indeed about power for Simran Bhogal.
Simran Bhogal allegedly did it as a form of escapism
Shortly after discovering the catfishing scam, Kirat Assi filed a civil lawsuit against Bhogal. Ultimately, it led to Assi winning and receiving a hefty compensation. The conditions of the settlement also included a private apology, which Assi was not allowed to share.
In this apology, Bhogal allegedly revealed why she did this to her cousin. However, Assi could only reveal a part of this in Alexi Mostrous' podcast. Assi disclosed that Bhogal told her she did this because she believed both Assi and Bhogal were in a dark place and this social media courtship gave them both an escape from reality. Kirat said in the podcast:
"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."
However, Assi reportedly did not believe this version of the story and continued to believe that for Simran Bhogal, it was more of an entertainment and an attempt to control.
However, a psychologist did support the escapism theory later, which hinted that Bhogal may have really wanted to enjoy a life that she could not physically attain.
Anyhow, years on, Kirat Assi does not want an explanation anymore. However, she still wants justice for the crime and wants a fair punishment for her cousin, for which she continues to fight even today.
Netflix's Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare covers this case in extensive detail.
