After the entire nation went into a tizzy, Poonam earlier this morning, revealed that all this in fact, was a well thought out campaign to raise awareness on cervical cancer. Taking to her IG handle she wrote, “I feel compelled to share something significant with you all – I am here, alive. Cervical Cancer didn’t claim me, but tragically, it has claimed the lives of thousands of women who stemmed from a lack of knowledge on how to tackle this disease.” While the motive behind such a stunt might be noble, what are the legal ramifications of faking one’s own death? Lawyer Khushbu Jain takes us through the legal repercussions of such an act…
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According to Khushbu, Poonam Pandey’s recent act of faking her death may not be considered as a crime on its own, but legal ramifications arise when it is utilized as a means to commit fraud.
Jain adds that it is crucial to understand that the act of faking one’s death is not inherently illegal. However, the legality becomes compromised when this action is coupled with fraudulent intentions. Specifically, if an individual orchestrates a fake death to gain advantages such as accessing wills, life insurance benefits or evading financial obligations, death benefits, evading debts, alimony or child support obligations, then he/she may face charges related to fraud.
She adds that it is essential to emphasise that the commission of a fraudulent act, such as benefiting from a false death report, is a punishable offence. Should someone file a report of the individual’s death on their behalf, both parties could be implicated in the crime of participating in a fraudulent death report.
Though this act of Poonam Pandey may not be considered as illegal per se, but deception on such a scale undermines the trust between the public, the cause, the celebrity and the campaign organizers. Trust is crucial in any awareness campaign and deliberately misleading the audience can lead to feelings of betrayal. Moreover, the emotional toll on fans, friends and family who may believe the false news is significant, potentially overshadowing the noble message about cervical cancer awareness. Employing such shock tactics could be seen as emotionally manipulative and ethically questionable, overshadowing the importance of the cause with controversy. Alternatively, more transparent approaches that emphasize real-life stories, collaboration with medical professionals, and promoting preventive measures may prove more effective without compromising ethical standards, wrapped up Khushbu Jain.
Khushbu Jain is Advocate, Supreme Court, and Managing Partner at Ark Legal law firm
