A political storm erupted on Tuesday after the Kerala Congress alleged that Bollywood actress Preity Zinta had an Rs 18 crore loan written off and had handed over her social media accounts to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The actress swiftly refuted the accusations, slamming both the party and media outlets for spreading misinformation.

Preity Zinta slams Kerala Congress for ‘promoting fake news’

Reacting strongly, Preity Zinta expressed her shock over what she called a political party’s attempt to promote fake news. She clarified that the loan in question was fully repaid over a decade ago.

“No, I operate my social media accounts myself, and shame on you for promoting FAKE NEWS! No one wrote off anything or any loan for me. I’m shocked that a political party or their representative is indulging in vile gossip & clickbaits using my name & images,” Zinta wrote on X.

She further stated: “For the record, a loan was taken and FULLY PAID BACK over 10 years ago. Hope this clarifies and helps so there are no misunderstandings in the future.”

Media outlets also come under fire

The actress also criticized media houses for failing to verify facts before publishing reports. “So much misinformation going around, but thank God for social media and thank God for X!” she added.

Calling for greater accountability in journalism, Zinta urged reporters to fact-check before naming public figures in controversial stories.

“Next time, please call me and find out if the story is true or not before mentioning my name,” she wrote.

Kerala Congress responds, cites media reports

Following Zinta’s rebuttal, the Kerala Congress responded on X, stating that they had merely shared information reported by media outlets.

“Good to know you’re managing your own account, unlike other celebs who have handed theirs over to the notorious IT cell. Thanks for the clarification, @realpreityzinta, regarding your loan position. We are glad to accept mistakes if we have made any,” the party’s post read.

The party cited a report alleging that ex-employees of New India Cooperative Bank had written to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in 2020, highlighting financial mismanagement under its chairman Hiren Bhanu.

According to the Kerala Congress, the report stated: “Bollywood actress Preity Zinta’s ₹18 crore loan was written off without due recovery procedures.”

They further referenced allegations of fraudulent loan write-offs, claiming multiple loans turned into non-performing assets (NPAs) and were diverted through other banks.

Preity Zinta’s views on social media criticism

Prior to the controversy, Preity Zinta had spoken about the growing negativity on social media, particularly towards public figures.

“If you appreciate your PM, you are a bhakt… if you are a proud Hindu or Indian, then you’re an ‘Andh Bhakt’! Let’s keep it real, folks, and take people for who they are and not who we think they should be!” she had posted.

The clash between Preity Zinta and the Kerala Congress has further fueled the political and social media debate, with both sides standing firm on their positions.