Who is Dhani Ram Mittal, 'Indian Charles Sobhraj' Whose Life & Crimes Will Be Depicted In MoneyRam?

Malayalam filmmaker Srinath Rajendran is known for the 2021 hit crime thriller Kurup, is about to make his Bollywood debut. He is going to direct a Hindi film titled MoneyRam, which is inspired by the life of Dhani Ram Mittal, a very infamous conman and forger. The film will depict Mittal's criminal activities from 1969 until his death in April 2024.

The movie is based on the book MoneyRam, co-authored by Chetan Uniyal and Pretty Aggarwal. This adaptation is set to bring a compelling narrative to the screen, showcasing Rajendran's distinctive storytelling style in a new language and context. Let us explore about who is Dhani Ram Mittal and why he is known.

Who is Dhani Ram Mittal?

Dhani Ram Mittal, often referred to as the ‘Super Natwarlal’ or the ‘Indian Charles Sobhraj’, began his life as a dedicated student, graduating from Rohtak in 1964. However, unable to secure a job through his education, he turned to a life of crime. Not an ordinary criminal, Mittal entered the crime scene by stealing vehicles from court parking lots after his shift, initially just for amusement. His frequent presence in court sparked his interest in the judiciary, eventually leading him to pose as a judge. He forged a 'forced leave order' for a judge in a Jhajjar court and took his place as the magistrate.

Mittal not just faked to be a judge but later he fully embraced the role. He sent a few people to jail, but most of the undertrials were released on bail. His law degree aided him in becoming a 'learned' judge who believed that jail should be an exception, with bail as the standard practice in the criminal justice system.

Later, Mittal earned a diploma in handwriting and graphology and began making fake driving licenses to earn money. Bored with this, he moved on to bigger scams. From the 1960s to the 2000s, Mittal was directly implicated in over 150 cases of car theft across Haryana, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

Dhani Ram Mittal was arrested 95 times

Dhani Ram Mittal was reportedly involved in more than 1000 cases of theft, cheating, impersonation, and forgery throughout his life, leading to over 95 arrests. His crimes involved impersonation a judge to releasing criminals serving long jail terms to stealing luxury cars that he fancied. Mittal passed away earlier this year at the age of 85, following a period of illness.

This thriller film is currently in the writing stages and will begin filming in early 2025. It is produced by Insomnia Media and Content Services Limited, in association with Pretty Pictures.