Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old social media influencer and law student, was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody by a Kolkata court on Saturday, after being arrested for posting a derogatory video that allegedly hurt religious sentiments. The Kolkata Police apprehended Panoli from Gurugram, Haryana, on the night of May 30, acting on a court-issued arrest warrant following multiple failed attempts to serve legal notices to her and her family.
The case stems from an Instagram video posted on May 14 under the title “Operation Sindoor,” in which Panoli responded to a Pakistani follower’s question about India’s military reaction to the Pahalgam terror attack. In the viral clip, Panoli is accused of making disparaging remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad, and criticising Bollywood actors for their silence on the issue. The video sparked widespread backlash, prompting Panoli to delete the post and issue a public apology on X on May 15.
Police charged Panoli under various sections of the law for promoting enmity and insulting religious sentiments. Since the video’s release, she has reportedly received death and rape threats. The legal action against Panoli highlights growing concerns over social media accountability and hate speech in India.
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