In a chilling twist on EastEnders, a revenge plot orchestrated by Nicola Mitchell and her son Harry took a devastating turn, leading to a violent attack with life-threatening consequences. The target, Ravi Gulati, became the perpetrator in a horrific case of mistaken identity after being drugged.
A Revenge Plan Spins Out of Control
The dramatic events, which aired on Thursday 8 January 2026, stemmed from a deep-seated vendetta. Ravi, played by Aaron Thiara, had previously blackmailed Harry (Elijah Holloway) into working as a drug mule. This led to Harry's false imprisonment and a traumatic ordeal where he killed Ravi's associate, Okie, in self-defence.
Furious that Ravi faced no repercussions while Harry and his family were shattered, Nicola (Laura Doddington) and her son devised a plan. They decided to spike Ravi's drink at Nicola's bar, giving him a taste of his own medicine. However, the consequences were far darker than they anticipated.
Ghosts of the Past Lead to a Real Attack
Under the influence of the drugged whisky, Ravi began to hallucinate. He was tormented by the ghost of his father, Nish Panesar (Navin Chowdhry), whom he had killed a year earlier. The spectral Nish goaded Ravi into a fight.
In a tragic case of mistaken identity, Ravi did not lash out at a phantom. The person he punched and slammed against a wall was very real: it was his own son, Nugget (Juhaim Rasul Choudhury), who had come looking for him. Ravi, in his altered state, believed he was attacking his father.
Fans Fear for Nugget's Future
The aftermath was immediate and severe. While a confused Ravi remained unaware of his actions, Nugget was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma, fighting for his life. The shocking development sent EastEnders fans into a frenzy of speculation online.
Many expressed hope that Nugget would survive, praising the young actor's performance. Others feared a tragic 'one-punch death' storyline. Some viewers had predicted the victim might be Ravi's half-brother, Vinny (Shiv Jalota), who was also searching for him.
The attack has also raised questions about the future of Nugget's mother, Priya (Sophie Khan Levy), and her relationship with Ravi. Fans are now asking if this will be the final straw that forces her to leave him for good.
Will the Plotters Be Discovered?
The revenge plan, intended to make Ravi suffer without landing Nicola and Harry in prison, has now resulted in a potential tragedy. As Ravi begins to emerge from his drug-induced haze, a critical question hangs over Albert Square: will he realise what he has done and, more importantly, will he discover that Nicola and Harry are the architects of his nightmare?
The storyline marks a dark new chapter for the character, with the fallout from this attack set to ripple through the Panesar and Mitchell families for weeks to come.
