Influencer Sharmistha Panoli Held In Poor Jail Conditions? Lawyer Flags ‘Lack Of Hygiene’

Last Updated:June 02, 2025, 22:01 IST

Sharmistha Panoli's advocate submitted a plea in court, stating that "proper hygiene is not being maintained" at the Alipore Women's Correctional Home

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

Sharmistha Panoli, the Instagram influencer arrested for allegedly posting “hate speech" and abusive content online, is being denied basic rights and is experiencing a decline in health, her lawyer has claimed.

Advocate Md Samimuddin submitted a plea in court, stating that “proper hygiene is not being maintained" at the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home, where Panoli is currently held.

“At Alipore women’s correctional home, proper hygiene is not being maintained around her and she is unwell. She has kidney stones. She is not being given access to newspapers and magazines. Today we have filed a petition in the court so that she gets access to her basic rights," said Panoli’s advocate Md Samimuddin.

He added that efforts are being made to get her out of the jail before June 13, and legal routes are being explored for the same.

“We will sit down on the matter today and discuss it. We will take a call in one or two days about what we will do. She is innocent," he said.

Panoli, a law student and social media influencer, was arrested in Gurugram on Friday (May 30) and brought to Kolkata, where she was presented before a magistrate and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.

Her arrest came in response to a complaint filed at the Garden Reach Police Station on May 15, alleging that she posted a video that insulted religious sentiments and promoted communal disharmony.

In the video, Panoli criticised Bollywood actors—particularly Muslim stars—for their silence on Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terror camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The video, which included abusive language and communal remarks, sparked significant backlash online and was subsequently taken down. Panoli later issued an apology.

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

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...

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