Where is Hargobind Tahilramani now? Fire alarm halts 'Hollywood Con Queen' scammer's trial

Hargobind Tahilramani was arrested in 2020
PUBLISHED MAY 8, 2024
Hargobind Tahilramani has scammed 300 individuals (YouTube/@ABCNews)
Hargobind Tahilramani has scammed 300 individuals (YouTube/@ABCNews)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Hollywood Con Queen' scammer Hargobind Tahilramani was arrested by Manchester police for defrauding over 300 people. However, Hargobind had a dramatic court hearing as his trial was halted by a fire. Currently incarcerated, Hargobind's extradition to the United States from the United Kingdom was imminent.

However, he faced charges of "conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft." During his hearing, Hargobind's trial was interrupted by a fire. According to the reports, the US’s legal representative was making final submissions to the court when a fire alarm brought chaos to the courtroom.

An automated message incessantly urged people in the court to evacuate the building. The fire reportedly erupted in the court’s basement during lunchtime, prompting 300 individuals to flee the premises. Remarkably, this marked the second instance of an alarm disrupting Hargobind's trial. In November 2022, a fire alarm test similarly interrupted and postponed his court proceedings.

Hargobind Tahilramani was arrested for scamming people (YouTube/@
Hargobind Tahilramani was arrested for scamming people (YouTube/@ABCNews)

Hargobind Tahilramani tries to halt extradited

Hargobind Tahilramani's attorney tried to prevent his extradited to the US. The Con Queen scammer's lawyer argued that the suspect shouldn’t be extradited, citing concerns over the poor conditions of United States prison. He claimed that it would put him at increased risk of self-harm and violence.

Hargobind's lawyers claimed that he had a threat from other prisoners due of his 'unique characteristics,' which include "his homosexuality, his demonstrable femininity, his prior history of abuse which has affected his mental health and his histrionic personality disorder."

Hargobind Tahilramani has scammed 300 people (YouTube/@ABCNews)
Hargobind Tahilramani has scammed 300 people (YouTube/@ABCNews)

What did con artist Hargobind Tahilramani do?

Before his arrest, 'Hollywood Con Queen' mastermind Hargobind Tahilramani was a food blogger. He impersonated top Hollywood executives to lure film industry professionals, including make-up artists, security personnel, and actors, to Indonesia. There, they were persuaded to hand over large sums of cash under the pretext of covering expenses while awaiting meetings for a supposed blockbuster production.

Hargobind used to target struggling actors in the entertainment industry, assuming the identities of various well-known female Hollywood executives, their assistants, and even their relatives.

He had defrauded 300 individuals and swindled $1 million. Viewers will gain an in-depth understanding of Hargobind's scam through interviews with real-life victims in the upcoming Apple TV+ docu-series.

'Hollywood Con Queen'
'Hollywood Con Queen' will delve into Hargobind Tahilramani's scam (YouTube/@appletv+)

Catch the three-part docuseries 'Hollywood Con Queen' on Wednesday, May 8, on Apple TV+.

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