In a surprising turn of events, model and actor Poonam Pandey and her partner (described as former husband by Times of India and husband by Hindustan Times), Sam Bombay, find themselves entangled in an INR1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Mumbai resident Faizan Ansari.
The lawsuit, lodged with the Kanpur Police Commissioner, alleges that the duo orchestrated a false conspiracy regarding Poonam’s death and attempted to downplay the seriousness of critical diseases, particularly cancer.
Faizan seeks financial compensation and urges authorities to arrest Poonam and Sam for their alleged involvement in the deceptive stunt, claiming that their actions were aimed at garnering personal publicity by trivializing life-threatening illnesses.
Also Read: Poonam Pandey Defends Against Fake Death Controversy
According to an FIR published by Times of India, “Poonam Pandey and her husband Sameer Bombay have fabricated a false conspiracy of death. Along with this, they have made a joke out of diseases like cancer. Poonam orchestrated the drama for publicity and played with the emotions of millions of Indians and the Bollywood film industry.”
The bizarre incident unfolded on February 2 when Poonam announced her own demise due to cervical cancer on Instagram, requesting privacy during the mourning period. However, the revelation turned out to be a shocking hoax, leaving the public outraged at the insensitivity of the ploy. In an Instagram video the next day, Poonam admitted, “I am alive. I didn’t die of cervical cancer. Unfortunately, I can’t say that about those hundreds and thousands of women who have lost their lives because of cervical cancer.”
The move drew widespread criticism for its highly inappropriate and unacceptable nature, prompting condemnation from various quarters, including the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA). The AICWA denounced Poonam’s actions as “highly wrong” and “unacceptable,” calling for an FIR to be filed against both Poonam and her manager and emphasizing the need for legal consequences to address the gravity of the situation.
As the controversy unfolds, the entertainment industry and the public await further developments in this perplexing case, which raises questions about the ethical boundaries of seeking attention in the age of social media.
