Lagatar24 Desk
Kolkata: Social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli has become the centre of a nationwide debate after her recent arrest for a controversial Instagram video. The 22-year-old was taken into custody by Kolkata Police from Gurugram, Haryana, over allegations of posting communal content, and is currently in judicial custody till 13 June 2025.
Who is Sharmistha Panoli
A 22-year-old law student from Pune Law University, Panoli is also a budding Instagram influencer with over 93,000 followers. Known for her bold views on political and social issues, she came under fire after posting a video on 14 May criticising Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor — India’s recent anti-terror mission.
The controversial video and backlash
In the now-deleted video, Panoli reportedly accused Hindi film stars of ignoring national issues. The post led to a wave of online trolling, threats, and eventually a legal complaint filed in Kolkata. Although she issued an unconditional public apology on 15 May, stating she never intended to hurt anyone, legal proceedings had already been initiated.
Legal action and arrest
After not responding to multiple legal notices, Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police and transported under transit remand to West Bengal. In court, both police custody and her bail request were denied. She was placed in judicial custody until mid-June. Authorities also confiscated her phone and laptop to probe for further offensive content.
Kangana Ranaut voices support
Bollywood actress and MP Kangana Ranaut came out in support of Panoli. Posting on Instagram, she stated, “I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression, but such words most youngsters use these days. She apologised… that should be enough. No need to bully and harass her further. She should be released immediately.”
