Sharmistha Panoli Viral Video: Original Full Details on Controversy and Arrest
A controversy has erupted over the arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer. She was taken into custody after a video she posted, which included communal remarks about Bollywood actors, particularly Muslim stars, went viral. In the video, she criticized these actors for not speaking out about Operation Sindoor. Following backlash, Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology.
Her arrest has sparked a heated debate between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. The situation gained international attention when Dutch MP Geert Wilders publicly supported her.
Sharmishta Panoli is a fourth-year law student from Pune, who gained popularity on social media for her political commentary. After facing criticism for her recent video, she removed all her content from Instagram.
The Kolkata Police stated that her comments were derogatory and targeted a specific religious community. She is also accused of using abusive language while criticizing Bollywood figures and YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia for their perceived leniency towards Pakistan. The video drew significant criticism, and some users even sent her threats.
On May 14, Waris Pathan, a spokesperson for AIMIM, shared a video of Panoli and accused her of insulting Islam, calling for her arrest. The following day, she apologized on social media, stating that she never intended to hurt anyone.
Her comments led to widespread backlash, particularly from the Muslim community, who accused her of making offensive statements. A complaint was filed against her in Kolkata, and after failing to serve her a legal notice, the police issued a warrant for her arrest. She was eventually located and arrested in Gurugram.
Panoli was presented in court and placed in judicial custody until June 13. As she left the court, she expressed her frustration, saying, “The way this harassment is being done in a democracy — this is not democracy.” The Kolkata Police clarified that her arrest was lawful and related to hate speech laws, emphasizing that such content can lead to communal tension.
