NEW DELHI: A 22-year-old Instagram influencer, Sharmishtha Panoli, on Saturday was remanded to 13-day judicial custody after she was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly making communal remarks in a social media video. The law student, originally from Kolkata’s Anandapur area and currently enrolled at a Pune-based university, was apprehended in Gurugram on Friday night after reportedly evading multiple police summons.The video in question featured Panoli criticising Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor, as per police sources cited by news agency PTI. The post went viral and triggered a wave of backlash, prompting her to delete the video and issue an apology. However, by then, a formal complaint had been filed in Kolkata and legal proceedings had commenced.Panoli was produced in a Kolkata court on Saturday, where her bail plea was rejected and she was remanded to judicial custody until June 13, PTI reported. She has been charged under several sections related to promoting enmity between groups and causing religious disharmony.
Kolkata Police: ‘Legal procedures followed’
In response to online speculation about the legality of the arrest, Kolkata Police issued a statement clarifying that all due process was followed.“In reference to Garden Reach Police Station Case No. 136 dated 15.05.2025, certain social media narratives suggesting an unlawful arrest of a law student are factually incorrect and misleading,” the statement read. “All legal procedures were duly adhered to. Multiple attempts were made to serve notice, but she was absconding each time. A competent court then issued an arrest warrant, and she was apprehended lawfully from Gurugram.”The statement added that she was produced before a magistrate and granted transit remand as per legal norms.
Suvendu Adhikari slams arrest as ‘appeasement politics’
Reacting to the arrest, BJP leader and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the state government of selective action.“FIRs were filed against Mahua Moitra for derogatory remarks about Goddess Kali. Was any action taken? Saayoni Ghosh made comments about Mahadev. Nothing happened,” Adhikari said. “This is appeasement politics. Action is only taken against Sanatanis while others have a licence to abuse Sanatana Dharma.”Adhikari claimed that several FIRs against TMC leaders had been ignored and accused the ruling party of using religion as a political tool to secure its vote bank.
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