Kolkata Court Sends Law Student Sharmistha Panoli to Judicial Custody Over Allegedly Offensive Video
Published on: May 31, 2025 | 9:54 PM IST
By: ChatGpt
A court in Kolkata's Alipore area has remanded 19-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli to 14 days of judicial custody for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through a controversial video posted on Instagram following Operation Sindoor.
The court denied the state's request for police custody, instead directing that Panoli be placed under judicial custody after she was brought to Kolkata on a transit remand from Gurugram.
The video in question reportedly went viral and triggered public outrage, prompting the student to delete the post and issue a public apology via the social media platform ‘X’. Despite this, legal proceedings were initiated, and Panoli was arrested based on a formal complaint filed in West Bengal.
Case Highlights
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Name: Sharmistha Panoli
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Age: 19
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Profession: Law Student, Instagram Influencer
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Allegation: Hurt religious sentiments via social media video
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Legal Action: Arrested in Gurugram, brought to Kolkata on transit remand
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Court Decision: Judicial custody for 14 days, no police custody granted
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Incident Context: Social media post after Operation Sindoor
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Public Reaction: Widespread backlash, followed by public apology
Background on Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor is a recent law enforcement operation that has drawn national attention, triggering a wave of reactions across social media platforms. Several influencers and users have faced criticism, scrutiny, or legal action over their online content related to the operation.
Legal Developments
According to court sources, the Kolkata Police requested police custody to further investigate the nature and intent behind the viral post. However, the court ruled that police custody was unnecessary at this stage and directed that Panoli be held in judicial custody for 14 days.
This decision comes amid increasing concern about online hate speech, misinformation, and the misuse of social platforms to spread communal disharmony.
Social Media Response
Panoli’s social media handles, which had a significant following, have been partially deactivated or set to private. In her apology on ‘X’, she stated that the video was “misinterpreted” and that she had “no intention of offending anyone’s religious sentiments.”
Despite the apology, several user groups and activists demanded strict action, citing the video as a violation under Indian Penal Code sections relating to religious harmony.
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