[5][6] Pandey became popular through her social media accounts, including Twitter, when she started posting her semi-nude photos.

[20] The general secretary of Shiv Sena Chitrapat objected to advertisements, saying, "We find the poster highly vulgar and derogatory and won't allow such hoardings.

[27][25] On 5 November 2020, Pandey was arrested in North Goa for filming a nude video on government property.

[34][35] The next day it was revealed to be a publicity stunt to raise awareness about the disease, which received widespread criticism.

[36][37][38] Pandey publicly apologised after the All Indian Cine Workers Association demanded that the Mumbai Police Commissioner file an FIR against her.

[39] In January 2022, Poonam Pandey was granted protection from arrest by the Supreme Court in connection with a pornographic films racket case, in which businessman Raj Kundra was one of the main accused.

Along with actor Sherlyn Chopra, Pandey was named as an accused in an FIR registered by the Mumbai Police's Cyber Cell under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and the Information Technology Act.