Sharmishtha Panoli Walks Free On Bail After Communal Post Row; Calcutta HC Flags Safety Threats, Tells Cops To Act

Influencer and law student Sharmishtha Panoli has been granted interim bail by the Calcutta High Court after her arrest over a controversial social media video. The 22-year-old had been taken into custody last week for allegedly making communal remarks in a now-deleted post connected to Operation Sindoor. Her arrest triggered major backlash online and stirred political debate in West Bengal.

While granting her bail, the court asked Kolkata Police to act on a petition Panoli had filed before her arrest. She had raised concerns about threats to her safety. The court took the threat seriously and directed police to provide necessary protection. Panoli is a fourth-year law student from Pune and was arrested in Gurugram by the Kolkata Police.

Sharmishtha Panoli Bailed After Brief Arrest

Calcutta HC has also laid down specific conditions for her release. Panoli must deposit Rs 10,000 and cannot leave India without the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s permission. Her earlier plea, highlighting safety concerns, played a role in the court’s decision.

Last week, the court had denied her interim bail. Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee commented on the balance between free speech and public harmony. The judge told, “We have freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others. The court also ordered the West Bengal government to submit the case diary by June 5.

How BJP Reacted To Her Arrest

Panoli’s post came during heated online exchanges between Indian and Pakistani users amid Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-response to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead. Her lawyer argued in court that the video was part of that digital exchange and claimed the complaint against her lacked real substance.

Her arrest has become a flashpoint in state politics. The BJP accused the Trinamool Congress-led state government of ‘selective enforcement’ and slammed the Kolkata Police for acting with ‘uncharacteristic haste.’ The party claims her arrest shows political bias in how such cases are handled.