On May 30, 2025, Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and Instagram influencer, was arrested in Gurugram by Kolkata Police for posting a now-deleted video that allegedly hurt religious sentiments.
As reported by the Hindustan Times, Sharmishta Panoli’s arrest, linked to remarks about Operation Sindoor and Bollywood’s silence, has sparked widespread debate.
Panoli’s May 14 video, responding to a Pakistani follower about the Pahalgam terror attack, contained abusive language and derogatory remarks about Islam, prompting backlash. Charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for promoting religious enmity and inciting unrest, she was remanded to 14-day judicial custody by Kolkata’s Alipore Court on May 31, per The Hindu. After evading legal notices, a court warrant led to her arrest, with her phone and laptop seized.
Kolkata, West Bengal: Kolkata Police arrested a law student Sharmistha Panoli from Pune in Gurgaon for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through social media posts on Operation Sindoor. She was brought to Kolkata on transit remand and produced before the Alipore CJM Court.… pic.twitter.com/jxDpcVSzlJ
— IANS (@ians_india) May 31, 2025Who Is Sharmishta Panoli?
A fourth-year student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Panoli has over 94,000 Instagram followers, known for political commentary. She deleted all social media content post-backlash and apologised on May 15, stating, “I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody.” Still, the controversial video in 2025 led to legal action, per NDTV. Her university suspended her for three months, citing a breach of conduct.
The Kolkata Police influencer case divided opinions. Hashtags like #ReleaseSharmistha trended on X, reflecting support from figures like Kangana Ranaut, who called for leniency. Critics, including AIMIM’s Waris Pathan, demanded strict punishment, per The Economic Times. BJP leaders accused the TMC government of selective enforcement, while Kolkata Police defended the arrest’s legality, per India Today.
The Sharmishta Panoli arrest highlights tensions over free speech and religious sensitivity in India, amplified by the Operation Sindoor remarks context. As the law student’s arrest fuels debates on social media and politics, it underscores the challenges influencers face in navigating divisive issues that impact public discourse and legal boundaries.
