Social media influencer and law student Sharmishta Panoli was arrested on Friday night in Gurugram by the Kolkata Police following widespread backlash over a video she posted earlier this month. The now-deleted video allegedly contained communally charged language and remarks that hurt religious sentiments, triggering legal action and online outrage.
Who is Sharmishta Panoli?
Sharmishta Panoli, 22, is a fourth-year law student at Symbiosis International University, Pune. A resident of Kolkata’s Anandapur area, Panoli rose to prominence on social media for her politically opinionated content. She has a sizable online following—around 90,000 followers on Instagram and 85,000 on X (formerly Twitter).
#WATCH | Kolkata: Sharmistha Panoli, arrested from Gurugram by Kolkata Police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through her comments on social media, produced in Alipore Court in Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/T1NQCruPAm
— ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2025
Her video posted on May 14 drew severe criticism for targeting Bollywood celebrities who she claimed remained silent during Operation Sindoor, a military operation launched after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
Legal action and arrest
After a complaint was filed in Kolkata, the police booked Panoli under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those pertaining to promoting enmity between different groups, deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings, and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.
Police efforts to serve her a legal notice initially failed, prompting a court to issue an arrest warrant. She was arrested from Gurugram, where she had gone with her family. A Kolkata Police officer confirmed the arrest, stating, “Several attempts were made to send legal notices, but the family went missing. The court was then approached, and she was taken into custody.”
Panoli has been remanded in 14-day judicial custody by a local court in Kolkata.
Online apology and backlash
Before her arrest, Panoli deleted the video and scrubbed her Instagram of all posts, including reels. She also issued a public apology on X, stating, “I do hereby tender my unconditional apology. Whatever was put are my personal feelings… I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody… Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post.”
However, the apology did little to quell the criticism, with many users and public figures—including AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan—calling for her arrest. Pathan accused her of inciting communal tension and hurting religious sentiments.
As of now, Sharmishta Panoli remains in custody, and the investigation continues.