Student sets up fundraiser to pay Rs 90,000 as fees, gets Rishabh Pant's attention. What happened next

The incident sparked broader discussions about the challenges and risks associated with online crowdfunding.

Indian cricketer Rishabh Pant found himself in the social media spotlight recently, not for his on-field exploits, but for a philanthropic gesture off the pitch. Kartikey Maurya, a self-claimed engineering student at Chandigarh University, reached out to Pant on the platform X (formerly Twitter) with an urgent plea for financial assistance. Maurya, who was struggling to pay his engineering fees, initiated a crowdfunding campaign seeking Rs 90,000 to cover his educational expenses.

Using the handle @TrueIndiaScenes, Maurya tagged Pant in a public post, writing, "Hello @RishabhPant17 Sir, I’m a student struggling to fund my engineering education. Your support can change my life. Please consider helping or sharing my campaign. Your kindness would mean everything to me." Maurya's crowdfunding appeal detailed his challenges, including his reliance on a part-time job as an SEO specialist, which had been unstable in recent months, leading to dwindling savings and mounting financial pressure.

Responding to Maurya's plea, Rishabh Pant sent an encouraging message, urging the student to remain committed to his goals. "Keep chasing your dreams. God has better plans always take care," Pant replied. Shortly after, Maurya shared screenshots on social media, claiming that Pant had donated the entire Rs 90,000 needed for his fees.

Keep chasing your dreams. God has better plans always tc
Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) August 26, 2024

However, the story took a turn as Maurya's post began to go viral, drawing a wave of skepticism from online users. Many accused him of being a scammer, questioning the authenticity of his claims and the legitimacy of his fundraiser. The backlash prompted Maurya to publicly announce that he would refund all donations, expressing his inability to handle the negative attention. "Refunding all the money. I can't handle all this hate. And please wait, I will share ss [screenshots] after that," Maurya responded to his critics.

In an attempt to defend himself, Maurya added, "People calling me a scam don't know that Ketto [the crowdfunding platform] doesn't list your fundraiser without valid proof. And if you don't believe me, try it yourself." Despite his efforts to clarify the situation, the controversy led Maurya to lock his X account.

The incident sparked broader discussions about the challenges and risks associated with online crowdfunding, especially in the context of education. Some users questioned the practicality of the donation, with one commenting, “He donated all 90,000, but it's just one semester's fee? What about the remaining 7?” Another user suggested harsher consequences, stating, "You should be blacklisted from the scholarship portal."

Several people also took to the comments section claiming Pant had been scammed.

@RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/mQLmakN5EF August 27, 2024

Meanwhile, there was a small section of social media users who hailed his gesture and showered praise.

"What a moment. This is a real hero," a user wrote. Another user commented, "Real hero for a reason."