Panoli, 22, faces judicial custody after alleged communal remarks spark legal action and political debate
Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune and Instagram influencer, was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram on Friday night for allegedly making communal remarks in a social media video. The video, posted on May 14, reportedly contained derogatory comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad, as well as criticism of Bollywood actors for their silence on India’s military actions following the Pahalgam terror attack.
After the video went viral and attracted backlash, Panoli deleted the post and issued an unconditional apology on May 15, stating that her remarks were personal feelings and not intended to hurt anyone. Despite this, multiple attempts to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family were unsuccessful, leading the court to issue an arrest warrant. She was subsequently arrested and produced before Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her to 14 days of judicial custody until June 13.
Panoli’s lawyer, Md Samimuddin, filed a bail application, noting that her mobile phone and laptop had already been seized. The court rejected the prosecution’s request for police custody and remanded her to judicial custody.
The case has sparked political controversy, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress of “appeasement politics” and alleging selective action against individuals based on their religious affiliations. Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut also voiced support for Panoli, calling for her immediate release and stating that while her comments were “unpleasant,” they did not warrant harsh treatment.