Earlier this month, the internet was abuzz with news of Poonam Pandey's alleged demise from cervical cancer, sending shockwaves across social media platforms. However, what initially appeared to be a tragic turn of events later unfolded as a shocking publicity stunt orchestrated by Poonam Pandey and her team to raise awareness about the disease.
In a twist to the saga, Poonam Pandey and her husband Sam Bombay have now found themselves embroiled in a legal battle as they face a defamation lawsuit amounting to a staggering Rs 100 crore. The lawsuit has been filed by Faizan Ansari, a resident of Mumbai, with the Kanpur Police Commissioner.
In the FIR, Ansari has accused Poonam Pandey and Sam Bombay of orchestrating a 'false conspiracy of death' and trivializing serious illnesses like cancer for their own publicity gains. He asserted that the couple's actions not only betrayed the trust of millions of Indians but also tarnished the reputation of the Bollywood fraternity.
"Poonam Pandey and her husband Sameer Bombay have fabricated a false conspiracy of death. Along with this, they have made a big joke of diseases like cancer. Poonam Pandey orchestrated all this drama for her publicity and has played with the trust of millions of Indians as well as the entire Bollywood industry," the FIR reads.
The FIR further demanded immediate action against Poonam Pandey and Sam Bombay, urging the Kanpur Police Commissioner to issue arrest warrants and ensure their appearance before the Kanpur Court to face the defamation charges.
Earlier, the All Indian Cine Workers Association (AICWA) also slammed Poonam. The body issued a statement demanding an FIR against her. From celebrities to doctors and politicians, people called out Poonam for spreading false news about her death. On February 2, Poonam's manager claimed that the actress had lost her life to cervical cancer.