Poonam Pandey and her husband, Sam Bombay, are facing a whopping Rs.100 crore defamation lawsuit over a fake death stunt. The lawsuit accuses them of trivializing a serious illness and fabricating a false death scenario.
Earlier this month, Pandey's team announced her supposed demise due to cervical cancer. However, there was no official confirmation of her death.
The following day, on February 3, Poonam Pandey appeared in a video on her social media platforms, confirming she was alive and expressing a desire to raise awareness about a disease that claims the lives of many women.
"I need to share something significant with you all - I'm here, alive. Cervical Cancer didn't take me, but sadly, it has taken the lives of thousands of women due to a lack of awareness about tackling this illness," the 32-year-old actor shared on Instagram alongside the video.
The fake death announcement sparked outrage on social media, with both celebrities and the public condemning the hoax as "absurd" and "shameful." Criticisms came from Bipasha Basu, Nikki Tamboli, Mini Mathur, Pooja Bhatt, among others.
The All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) demanded legal action against Pandey for toying with people's emotions in India. Maharashtra MLC Satyajeet Tambe also called upon Mumbai Police to take appropriate legal steps against Poonam.
Subsequently, the media company Schbang, involved in the fake death stunt, issued an apology. Nonetheless, it maintained that the campaign had achieved significant results.
Poonam Pandey Says She's Alive; 'Death' Message Aimed at Cervical Cancer Awareness
