A 22-year-old female influencer arrested for allegedly uploading a video containing communal remarks has alleged denial of basic facilities and threats from fellow inmates while lodged in Alipore Women’s Correctional Home. Her lawyer, Mohammed Samimuddin, on Monday submitted a petition in Alipore Court detailing her condition and requesting urgent intervention.
The influencer, Sharmishta Panoli, was arrested from Gurugram, Haryana, last Friday by Kolkata Police for allegedly making communal comments in a video referencing the silence of Bollywood celebrities on Operation Sindoor. She has been sent to judicial custody till June 13.
According to her counsel, Panoli is being kept in unhygienic conditions and is not receiving necessary medical care despite suffering from kidney-related ailments. “No proper hygiene is maintained inside the correctional home. My client is unwell and her condition may worsen without basic health and hygiene facilities,” said Samimuddin, adding that the court has sought a report on the matter by June 4.
The petition also raised serious concerns regarding her safety, alleging that she has received multiple threats from other inmates. “These threats have created an unsafe environment and are affecting her mental and physical well-being,” the lawyer said.
Citing her health concerns, the defence has requested that she be granted a separate room and access to a private bathroom to maintain hygiene.
Panoli has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity between communities, committing acts intended to outrage religious feelings, and making intentional insults likely to provoke breach of peace.
The case has sparked debates online about freedom of expression, digital accountability, and the safety of undertrial inmates in correctional facilities.
