Pooja Banerjee Vehemently Denies Money Laundering Allegations, Slams Media for Irresponsible Reporting
Mumbai, January 3, 2025 – Television actress Pooja Banerjee has issued a strong rebuttal against accusations linking her to a money laundering case, expressing profound disappointment over the dissemination of false information and the media’s handling of the situation. The allegations surfaced while Banerjee was vacationing with her family in South Africa, adding to the distress and disruption caused by the inaccurate reports.
Banerjee took to social media to address the allegations directly, clarifying that her name, photograph, and professional credentials were circulated by various media outlets without any verification or attempt to contact her for comment. She expressed frustration with the lack of journalistic due diligence, highlighting that many media organizations failed to cross-check the information with her or her representatives before publishing the story.
“I was recently falsely blamed for a money laundering case,” Banerjee wrote on Instagram. “Sadly, the news was circulated by almost all the media pages and outlets with my name, picture, and my credentials. I wasn’t aware of this news as I was in South Africa with my family when the false allegations were made without any comment from me or my team.”
The actress emphasized the distress caused to her family by the widespread dissemination of the false accusations, stating that they have decided to pursue legal action to clear her name and establish that she has not engaged in any illegal activities. She appealed for public support in her fight against the misinformation and stressed the importance of responsible reporting.
Banerjee criticized the media’s eagerness to publish unverified information and the reluctance of some journalists to retract the false story even after being presented with evidence of its inaccuracy. She attributed this resistance to journalistic ego and a lack of commitment to truth and accuracy.
"My family members were extremely distressed with such a huge false allegation being spread all over the news that we have decided to go the legal route in order to clear my standing that no such breach of law was done by me," Banerjee explained in her post.
The actress further lamented the impact of the false allegations on her reputation and the emotional toll it has taken on her and her loved ones. She called on the media to exercise greater responsibility in their reporting and to prioritize accuracy over sensationalism.
"To all my family, friends, and well-wishers, I’m sorry if this false news has hurt you, but I will stand against lies and make sure that this doesn’t happen with anyone," Banerjee stated. "And the media who still didn’t believe me, definitely do a double cross-check on such baseless reports. I request for everyone’s support in my cause."
Banerjee’s statement underscores the potential damage caused by the rapid spread of misinformation in the digital age and the importance of verifying information before publication. The incident also highlights the need for greater accountability in media reporting and the responsibility of journalists to correct errors promptly and transparently.
The actress concluded her message with a plea to media professionals to utilize their platform responsibly and to uphold the principles of truth and accuracy. "To all the media people, you have real power to change the world and I truly believe in it," she wrote. "My request is that the faith of such people shouldn’t waver."
This incident comes on the heels of reports last month that both Banerjee and actress Mallika Sherawat were questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged link to a Pakistani betting portal, Magicwin. The nature and outcome of these inquiries remain unclear, but Banerjee’s recent statement suggests that the allegations against her are unfounded.
The actress’s experience serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked information dissemination and the potential for reputational damage caused by false accusations. It also underscores the importance of media literacy and critical thinking in navigating the complex information landscape of the digital age. As Banerjee herself emphasized, the pursuit of truth and accuracy must remain paramount in both journalism and public discourse.