The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, June 5, granted interim bail to 22-year-old Instagram influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, who was recently arrested by the Kolkata Police in Gurugram. The arrest stemmed from a controversial video she posted on social media, which allegedly contained communal content and triggered significant public outrage online.
The court directed Panoli to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000 as a condition for her release. The video, reportedly derogatory toward a particular religious community, was later deleted by Panoli, who also issued a public apology on May 15.
Following her arrest, Panoli was presented before the Alipore Court in Kolkata on Saturday, where she was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. The controversial content was linked to her commentary on “Operation Sindoor,” which drew criticism and led to a formal complaint.
The FIR against Panoli was filed by Wajahat Khan Qadri, whose complaint prompted police action. However, senior officials revealed on Wednesday that Qadri is now absconding and currently untraceable.
Panoli’s arrest has sparked debates around freedom of expression, online accountability, and communal sensitivity in digital spaces.
