Who Is Jay Dudhane? Know everything about Splitsvilla 13 fame arrested in connection with Rs 5 CR fraud case

Actor and reality TV star Jay Dudhane, recognized for his participation in Bigg Boss Marathi 3 and his victory in Splitsvilla 13, was apprehended at Mumbai airport on Saturday, January 3, due to an alleged Rs 5 crore fraud involving fraudulent property sales. A resident of Thane, Jay, who also works as a fitness trainer, athlete, model, and actor, was taken into custody by the local police.

FIR against Dudhane

Police questioned his family members, including his mother, sister, grandmother, and grandfather, in relation to the FIR filed in the case. According to the police, an FIR was lodged by a retired engineer who alleged that Dudhane and four of his family members defrauded him of Rs 4.61 crore by inducing him to purchase five commercial shops, which were mortgaged to a bank, in Thane.

The arrest occurred shortly after Jay's recent marriage to his longtime girlfriend, content creator Harshala Patil.

Jay Dudhane’s early career

Jay Dudhane, born in 1997, is a 28-year-old who gained prominence after his participation in the dating reality show Splitsvilla 13, alongside Aditi Rajput. The two developed a close bond on the show and ultimately defeated semi-finalists Shivam Sharma and Pallak Yadav to win the trophy. Jay and Aditi were also recognized as an ideal match during the season.

Following this, in 2021, Jay participated in another reality show, Bigg Boss Marathi Season 3, where he secured the position of first runner-up.

Subsequently, he was featured in Mahesh Manjrekar's historical film Vedaat Marathe Veer Daudle Saat, which was released in 2023.

Jay's film debut occurred with the Marathi film Gadad Andhar, directed by Pradnyesh Kadam and produced by Elula Entertainment. The movie was released in theaters in 2023.

Jay’s personal life

Jay and Harshala, who had reportedly been in a relationship since 2023, were married on December 24, 2025, in a grand Maharashtrian ceremony in Thane. Harshala had made their relationship public on Jay’s birthday by posting black-and-white photos of them together on Instagram, although Jay's face was not visible in the images.

Jay and Harshala celebrated their engagement in March 2025, sharing beautiful photos on social media to mark the occasion.

Jay’s response to the allegations

Jay denied all accusations against him, stating that the situation had been misrepresented and that he was not afraid. After his arrest, while speaking to the media from a police van, Jay told TV9 that he had chosen not to hide his face, despite advice to do so, because he was prepared to face the situation and had faith in the judicial system.

Regarding his arrest, Jay mentioned that he was on his honeymoon with his wife, Harshala Patil, his brother, and his sister-in-law, and was unaware of the LOC (lookout circular) issued against him.

Starting with the allegation that he sold one shop to multiple people and cheated them out of Rs 5 crore, Jay responded by calling the claim laughable. He added, "Honestly, I was shocked... If anyone has proof, let them present it. It's unbelievable because the agreement has already been executed, and it would be impossible for one shop to be sold to multiple people. If it’s true, then prove it."

Jay also stated that he fully trusts the judicial system and will cooperate with the authorities.