Instagram influencer Sharmishtha Panoli arrested in Gurgaon for communal post on Bollywood's silence on Operation Sindoor

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Police has arrested a female Instagram influencer for posting a communal video targeting Bollywood actors over their silence on Operation Sindoor,

officials said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Sharmishtha Panoli, a student of a law university in Pune, was arrested from Gurgaon on Friday night.

According to police sources, Panoli had uploaded a video on Instagram alleging that Hindi film actors remained silent on Operation Sindoor. The post triggered widespread backlash, with many users trolling her and posting threatening comments. Facing criticism, Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology.

However, a complaint had already been lodged against her in Kolkata. Notices were subsequently issued to her and her family. “When repeated attempts to serve legal notices failed, and it was found that the family had decamped, the matter was placed before the court,” said a Kolkata Police officer. “A warrant was issued and she was arrested from Gurgaon.” Panoli is currently in police custody.