Pahalgam Terrorist Attack: Fraudulent fundraising in Prashant Satpathy’s name, family files complaint

In a shocking development following the tragic death of Prashant Satpathy in the Pahalgam terrorist attack, social media platforms have seen unauthorized fundraising campaigns being conducted in his name. These campaigns are collecting money without the knowledge or consent of Prashant’s family, raising serious concerns of fraud and exploitation in the wake of the attack.

Prashant’s wife, Priyadarshini Satpathy, along with his brother, has filed a formal complaint about the illicit fundraising activities. They revealed that several individuals on social media have been soliciting donations in the name of providing support to the family, including using platforms like PhonePe and other e-transactions to collect funds.

Family Says No Consent Taken

The family has emphasized that they have not authorized any such fundraising efforts and have pleaded with the public to refrain from donating to these accounts. They have expressed concern over the misuse of their name and the potential financial exploitation of well-meaning individuals.

“Maybe those doing these might be doing so with good intentions. But we have not received any phone call or taken any consent. If anyone has taken money in my husband’s name, they should donate the money to any trust,” said the deceased Prashant’s wife from Balasore.

Prashant’s brother said, “We are away from social media as we were in a state of shock. Later, we came across a social media post seeking funds. We have lodged a complaint at cyber police station. We want to clear that we have not sought any money. We thank people of Odisha for standing with our family in such crucial time.” 

According to the complaint, individuals have taken advantage of the public's sympathy for the family, attempting to collect money under the pretext of offering help. Despite the family's clear denial of involvement, some users have continued to promote these unauthorized campaigns across various online platforms.

In response to this, the family has formally lodged a complaint with the Cyber Police Station, urging the authorities to take swift action against the perpetrators. They have called on the police to track down the individuals behind these fraudulent activities and hold them accountable.

The situation has raised awareness about the dangers of online scams and the need for caution when engaging with unverified fundraising campaigns. Local authorities have advised the public to refrain from participating in any financial contributions unless explicitly approved by the family or official channels. The police have assured that they are investigating the matter thoroughly and will take strict action against anyone found responsible for this fraudulent activity.