'Absconding, Used Abusive Words': What Kolkata Police Said About Sharmistha Panoli’s Arrest

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Last Updated:June 01, 2025, 23:50 IST

Kolkata Police further dismissed claims surfacing online that Sharmistha Panoli was targeted for expressing patriotism or "opposing Pakistan" in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor

Sharmishta Panoli, 22, was arrested by Kolkata Police over an alleged communal post. (IANS)

The Kolkata Police on Sunday defended the arrest of Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli, stating that legal action was taken not for expressing national sentiments, but for allegedly delivering hate speech and abusive language in a video.

In a detailed clarification justifying her arrest, the police noted that hate speech and abusive language “should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech and expression"

Kolkata Police further dismissed claims surfacing online that Panoli was targeted for expressing patriotism or “opposing Pakistan" in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor.

“Some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan. This narrative is mischievous and misleading," the Kolkata Police said in a statement.

The case against Panoli was registered on 15 May at Garden Reach Police Station, said the police, adding that the video in question was considered “insulting to the religious belief of a class of citizen of India and amounted to promoting disharmony and hatred between different communities."

‘Absconding’

The police said the case against Panoli was registered under the relevant sections of the newly implemented Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

After proper investigation into the case, repeated attempts to serve legal notice to Panoli reportedly failed, with the police saying she was “absconding."

“Several attempts were made to serve notice u/s 35 of BNSS to the accused but every time she was found absconding," Kolkata Police said.

A court then issued a warrant for her arrest. Subsequently, she was apprehended from Gurugram, Haryana, during daytime hours and later presented before a magistrate, who granted transit remand. She was eventually sent to judicial custody.

The Kolkata Police noted that under the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, hate speech targeting any religious figure or community—especially if it has the potential to incite communal disharmony or hatred—is a punishable offence.

Ronit Singh

Ronit Singh, Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking News team. He has a keen focus on Indian politics and aims to cover unexplored angles. Ronit is an alumnus of Christ (Deemed to be...Read More

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