Comedian Neetu Bhardwaj has levelled serious allegations against fellow performers Abhishek Upmanyu, Urooj Ashfaq, and Shashwat Maheshwari, accusing them of stalking, harassment, and the theft of her intellectual property. In a series of posts shared on her Instagram account, Bhardwaj described the group as a “comedy mafia,” claiming they have systematically targeted her and her family while compromising their digital security.
According to Bhardwaj, the alleged harassment extends beyond digital interference into her physical life. She claims that she and her family members are being “followed everywhere,” noting that even mundane daily activities such as visiting a grocery store or walking in a local park have resulted in her being shadowed. The comedian expressed significant concern for her safety, stating, “My family and I are really unsafe,” and warned that if any harm comes to her or her relatives, the aforementioned individuals should be held responsible.
Regarding her digital security, Bhardwaj alleged that her personal devices have been compromised. She claims that her calls are being monitored and that her private information has been stolen and circulated among the group. Furthermore, she specifically accused Shashwat Maheshwari of hacking her social media accounts since 2022. She alleged that he had been mimicking her online presence—including tweets, social media posts, and private WhatsApp messages—to conduct smear campaigns against her, even during periods when she was not actively pursuing a career in comedy.
The accusations also include claims of intellectual property theft. Bhardwaj recounted an incident from the previous year, during which she traveled to Mumbai and later Bengaluru for recordings. She claims that she accidentally left a suitcase containing her personal notebooks and diaries—filled with her written comedic material—in Bengaluru. According to her account, the shipping company failed to return the suitcase for an entire month.
Bhardwaj alleges that during this period, her material was accessed and subsequently plagiarized. She specifically identified Abhishek Upmanyu and Urooj Ashfaq as the primary beneficiaries of this alleged theft, claiming that the jokes recorded in her private diaries are now being used in their respective comedy specials. She asserted that a significant portion of the material currently being performed by Urooj Ashfaq was sourced from her stolen work.
The allegations have further escalated to include claims of ideological conflict. Bhardwaj alleged that Shashwat Maheshwari and his partner had previously attempted to portray her as a stalker. She further claimed that they blocked her after citing reasons related to her personal religious practices, specifically mentioning her devotion to Lord Shiva and other Hindu deities. In her social media statements, she also alleged that the accused comedians maintained affiliations with the Illuminati.
The public nature of these allegations marks a significant escalation in the tensions within the creative circle. As of the time of reporting, the accused parties have not issued a formal response to the claims made by Bhardwaj. The accusations regarding surveillance, cyber-harassment, and the unauthorized use of comedic material remain under scrutiny following her public statement on October 20, 2026.
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