Who is Sharmistha Panoli?
22-year-old Sharmistha Panoli — a law student and rising Instagram influencer has found
herself in the eye of a nationwide storm. Arrested by Kolkata Police for a controversial video
she posted online, her case has sparked intense public debate on social media freedom,
political influence, and the growing risks of online expression. What began as a bold opinion
piece quickly spiraled into a legal and political firestorm.
Sharmistha Panoli Arrested by Kolkata Police
Sharmistha was arrested by Kolkata Police in Gurugram, Haryana, for allegedly sharing a
communal video related to ‘Operation Sindoor‘ that incited widespread backlash. In the
Instagram video, she criticized Bollywood celebrities for their silence on the operation,
leading to accusations of hate speech and threats from social media users. Despite deleting
the video and issuing an unconditional apology on social media, Panoli and her family
reportedly went untraceable, prompting a court to issue an arrest warrant. Her social media
profiles have since been made private, and all previous posts have been deleted.
Social Media Uproar: #ReleaseSharmistha Trends
As the situation unfolded, many people across social media began expressing their support
for Sharmistha. A large section of the public felt that her words reflected the truth about
celebrity silence on national matters. Among the notable figures backing her was actor and
politician Pawan Kalyan, who posted on social media saying, “I stand with Sharmistha.” His
statement added momentum to the growing wave of support, with hashtags and campaigns
trending online in her favor.
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