The arrest of 22-year-old Instagram influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli by the Kolkata Police has ignited a political and social firestorm, drawing strong reactions from national figures including Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and actor-MP Kangana Ranaut.
Panoli was arrested in Gurugram for allegedly making communal remarks in a now-deleted social media video referencing “Operation Sindoor.” She has since apologized for her comments, calling them a “mistake” and has expressed distress over the treatment she received. “The harassment you have done, being in a democracy—this is not what a democracy is,” she stated after her arrest.
In defense of Panoli, Pawan Kalyan took to social media to question the apparent double standards in the treatment of religious commentary. “Why no action when TMC MPs mock Sanatan Dharma? Why no outrage when our faith is called ‘Gandha Dharm’? Where is their apology?” he asked. Applauding Sharmistha for owning up to her mistake, Kalyan added, “She deleted the video and apologized. Blasphemy must be condemned, always—but secularism can’t be a shield for some and a sword for others.”
Echoing these sentiments, Kangana Ranaut, a newly elected MP, demanded Panoli’s immediate release, stating, “Sharmistha has already apologized. No need to bully or harass her. Today’s youth often express themselves in strong words—it doesn’t warrant such aggressive legal action.”
The Kolkata Police, however, stood by the arrest, stating that all due legal procedures were followed. They claimed Panoli and her family had been “absconding” after being served notices, leading to the court issuing a warrant.
The arrest has sparked outrage online under hashtags like #ReleaseSharmistha, with many accusing the administration of using disproportionate force against a young student for speech—while ignoring more inflammatory remarks made by political figures.
As the debate continues, the incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing national conversation about free speech, religious tolerance, and the equitable enforcement of laws in a secular democracy.
