Sharmistha Panoli: Pune Law Student and Influencer Arrested Over Controversial Social Media Post on Operation Sindoor

Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and popular Instagram influencer, has been arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly posting a video containing derogatory remarks against a religious community. The arrest comes after an FIR was filed against her in Kolkata following her now-deleted video that went viral and sparked widespread outrage on social media.

The video, posted on May 14, 2025, reportedly featured Panoli responding to a Pakistani follower’s query regarding India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack. In her video, she allegedly made objectionable comments about Islam and Prophet Muhammad, which were viewed as deeply offensive and disrespectful by many. The post triggered massive backlash, with the hashtag #ArrestSharmishta trending 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

According to police officials, Panoli was evading notice and could not be reached despite multiple attempts. She was eventually tracked down in Gurugram, Haryana, and arrested by a team from Kolkata Police. On Saturday, she was presented before the Alipore Court in Kolkata and taken into police custody.

Panoli, who is currently studying law at a reputed university in Pune, had a considerable social media following with over 80,000 followers each on Instagram and X. Known for her bold and outspoken content, she had earlier commented on Bollywood celebrities’ silence regarding Operation Sindoor, a recent military campaign highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a symbol of Naari Shakti (women empowerment).

After facing intense criticism and a flood of angry comments, Panoli deleted the controversial video and issued a public apology. In an Instagram story posted on May 15, she said she “never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody” and offered an “unconditional apology.” She also wiped all previous posts from her Instagram profile in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

As per Hindustan Times, the FIR against Sharmistha Panoli has been registered under several serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 196(1)(a) for promoting enmity between different groups, 299 for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious sentiments, 352 for intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and 353(1)(c) for inciting public mischief.

The case has drawn strong reactions online, raising questions about the responsibilities of influencers, the limits of free speech, and the role of law enforcement in maintaining communal harmony in the digital age.

As of now, Panoli remains in police custody and further investigations are underway.