The arrest of Pune law student and Instagram influencer Sharmishtha Panoli (22) and sending her to judicial custody till June 13 by a Kolkata court after her bail petition was rejected, triggered a political storm.
Her arrest came in the backdrop of her video on social media where she allegedly made communal comments, claiming Bollywood actors were silent on Operation Sindoor.
Jana Sena chief and AP Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan expressed his anger over Sharmishta’s arrest and posted on social media with the hashtags ‘I Stand with Sharmishta’ and ‘Equal Justice’.
Stressing that “secularism should be a two-way street”, he lamented over West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remarks and said, “But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called ‘Gandha Dharm’? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?”
Pawan Kalyan commented on the arrest of law student Sharmistha over her remarks during Operation Sindoor, noting that while she made a mistake, apologized, and deleted the video, action was taken against her swiftly.
However, he questioned the lack of similar accountability when elected leaders from the TMC allegedly insult Sanatana Dharma, asking why there is no outrage, apology, or arrest in such cases. Emphasising that blasphemy must always be condemned, Kalyan said secularism should apply equally to all and urged West Bengal Police to act fairly.
Sharmistha Panoli, is a law student at Pune Law University and a popular Instagram influencer with hundreds of thousands of followers. Known for her outspoken views on current affairs, she came into the national spotlight following a controversial video she posted on May 14, 2025, reacting to the Pahalgam terror attack and a Pakistani follower’s comments defending the attackers.
Panoli posted a video in response to the Pakistani user who questioned India’s military stance. In her video, she also criticised Bollywood celebrities for their silence on Operation Sindoor, a military operation following the terror attack.
However, the issue escalated when she allegedly made derogatory remarks about Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, which many found offensive. Her comments led to a massive social media backlash, with hashtags like #ArrestSharmistha trending on X (formerly Twitter). She received rape and death threats, and several users, including those from India and Pakistan, demanded legal action.
After facing public outrage and threats, Panoli deleted the video and issued an unconditional apology on May 15 through Instagram and X. She wrote, “I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody. So anybody is hurt, I’m sorry… Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public posts.”
Bollywood actor and MP Kangana Ranaut extended her support to Panoli via her Instagram Stories. She wrote: “I agree that Sharmistha used some unpleasant words for her expression, but such words most youngsters use these days. She apologised for her statements and that should be enough. No need to bully and harass her further. She should be released immediately.”
Meanwhile, Dutch MP Geert Wilders has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in Sharmistha Panoli’s case, calling her arrest a “disgrace to freedom of speech” and urged for the protection of her rights.
