Kolkata police have arrested a female Instagram influencer from Gurugram in connection with a video she allegedly uploaded containing communal comments and claims regarding Bollywood actors’ silence on a purported “Operation Sindoor.”
The arrested individual has been identified as Sharmishtha Panoli, who is reportedly enrolled in a Law University in Pune. She was taken into custody on Friday night from Gurugram.
Reason for arrest
According to PTI, Panoli’s arrest stems from an Instagram post where she allegedly claimed that Hindi film actors were remaining silent on “Operation Sindoor.” The nature of “Operation Sindoor” and Panoli’s specific allegations were not immediately detailed by authorities.
The video quickly drew significant backlash, with numerous users expressing disapproval, trolling her, and posting threatening messages in the comments section. This intense negative reaction reportedly prompted Panoli to delete the controversial video and issue an apology.
However, by that time, a complaint had already been filed against her in Kolkata. This was followed by legal notices being issued to both Panoli and her family. When the family reportedly decamped, a court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Panoli.
An officer from Kolkata police told PTI, “Several attempts were made to send legal notices to Panoli and her family but they disappeared. After that the police placed the matter before the court. The court issued her arrest warrant and on Friday night Kolkata Police arrested her from Gurugram.”
The arrest highlights the increasing scrutiny on social media content, particularly posts that are perceived to be communally charged or incite discord. Further details regarding the ongoing investigation are awaited.
(With PTI Inputs)
