Kolkata Police have taken social media content creator Sharmishta Panoli into custody over alleged communal remarks made in a now-deleted video. The 22-year-old was arrested late Friday night in Gurugram, Haryana, and brought to Kolkata, where she was remanded to judicial custody until June 13, 2025, after her bail plea was denied by the magistrate on Saturday.
What Sparked the Arrest?
The arrest follows multiple complaints regarding a video Panoli uploaded that reportedly contained communal comments. According to reports, she responded to a user—possibly from Pakistan—questioning India’s actions in firing at Pakistan without reason. Panoli allegedly accused Bollywood actors of remaining silent on “Operation Sindoor,” a claim that stirred controversy and complaints.
Who Is Sharmishta Panoli?
Panoli hails from Anandapur in Kolkata and is currently enrolled at a law university in Pune. She has a sizeable Instagram following of over 90,000 but has no active posts. However, a highlighted Instagram story dated May 15 features an unconditional apology, where she expressed regret for any hurt caused and pledged to be more cautious with her public posts going forward.
Legal Charges and Proceedings
Following the complaints, Kolkata Police registered an FIR under serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including: Section 196(1)(a): Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, or community. Section 299: Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. Section 352: Intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace. Section 353(1)(c): Statements that incite public mischief.
The police initially issued legal notices to Panoli and her family, but after receiving no response, they secured an arrest warrant. Upon being produced in court, the magistrate denied the police’s request for custody as well as Panoli’s bail application, leading to her judicial custody.
Current Status
Sharmishta Panoli remains in judicial custody as investigations continue. The case highlights the increasing scrutiny on social media content creators and the legal ramifications of spreading communal sentiments online.
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