Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer from Pune, was arrested by Kolkata Police on May 30 in Gurugram, Haryana. The arrest was made in connection with a video she posted on Instagram related to ‘Operation Sindoor’, which authorities allege contained communal and provocative content. The video criticized Bollywood celebrities for their silence on the operation and allegedly hurt religious sentiments and incited public disharmony.
Following the video’s release, an FIR was registered at the Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata on May 15. Although Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology, she could not be traced afterward, prompting Kolkata Police to issue an arrest warrant. She was apprehended in Gurugram and brought to Kolkata on transit remand. On May 31, she was produced before the Alipore Court and sent to 14 days of judicial custody.
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Panoli has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including promoting enmity between religious groups, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and inciting public mischief. Kolkata Police stated that due process was followed and the arrest was justified in light of the video’s potential to disrupt communal harmony.
The arrest has triggered political backlash. BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the West Bengal government of targeting Panoli for vote-bank politics. Actress Kangana Ranaut and Dutch MP Geert Wilders also condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on freedom of expression.
This incident continues to raise questions about freedom of speech, the power of social media, and the legal boundaries of digital expression in India.
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