Disha Patani’s father, who was promised a government post, got Rs 25 lakh; FIR filed

Bareilly: Jagdish Singh Patani, retired deputy MP and father of Bollywood actress Disha Patani, has fallen victim to an alleged fraud of Rs 25 lakh. The scam, carried out by a group of five people, revolved around the promise of a prestigious position in the government.

The incident came to light after Patani filed a complaint at the Bareilly Kotwali police station. According to station in-charge DK Sharma, an FIR has been registered against five persons — Shivendra Pratap Singh, Diwakar Garg, Acharya Jayaprakash of Jun Akhar, Preeti Garg and one unidentified accomplice. The charges include fraud, criminal intimidation and extortion.

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“Steps are being taken to arrest the accused and ensure strict action,” Sharma said.

Jagdish Patani, who lives in Civil Lines area of Bareilly, claimed that the scam started 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 position as chairman or deputy chairman in a government commission.

The group successfully gained Patani’s trust and extorted Rs 25 lakh; 5 lakhs in cash and 20 lakhs through bank transfers to three accounts. Despite a three-month wait, 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.

False connections and false promises

To bolster their claims, the accused have even introduced another accomplice as a “special officer” named Himanshu. This fake identity was used to further mislead the Pathans about their political connections.

Realizing that he was the victim of an elaborate scam, Patani suspected that the scam might be part of a larger fraud network. He immediately reported the matter to the police, which led to the registration of an FIR.

The case has attracted considerable attention due to its association with Bollywood actress Disha Patani, known for her roles in films such as Baaghi 2 and Malang. Although the actress has not commented on the situation, the incident added an unexpected twist to her family’s public profile.

Currently, the police are actively looking for the suspect and intend to reveal the full scale of the scam.