KOLKATA, India — Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer, is facing troubling health issues while detained at Alipore Women’s Correctional Home. Her lawyer, Md Samimuddin, stated that her condition has worsened since her arrest on May 30, when she was charged with offending religious sentiments.
Samimuddin expressed urgency in their efforts to secure her bail before June 13, emphasizing the inadequate conditions in the correctional facility. “Hygiene is not being maintained properly around her, and she is unwell,” he said, noting that Panoli is suffering from kidney stones. He also mentioned that she lacks access to newspapers and magazines, prompting them to file a petition for her basic rights.
Concerns over her arrest have been echoed by notable figures. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India and a Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court, criticized the action on June 1, labeling it an infringement on free expression. He accused the West Bengal government and local police of bias and selective enforcement, suggesting they target specific communities while overlooking serious crimes committed by others.
The controversy escalated when Prasun Maitra, the president of an NGO from North 24 Parganas, lodged a complaint against Wazahat Khan Qadri, the individual who initially filed the FIR against Panoli. Maitra accused Qadri of sharing anti-Hindu content on social media, thereby raising questions about the motivations behind the original complaint.
Panoli was apprehended in Gurugram for allegedly promoting offensive content related to “Operation Sindoor.” Following her arrest, she removed the contentious video and apologized on social media. Despite these actions, she remains in judicial custody, which the Alipore Court extended for 14 days.
Law enforcement authorities claim they made attempts to deliver legal notices to Panoli and her family, alleging they evaded law enforcement, which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Even after Panoli took steps to retract her controversial video and issued an apology on May 15, the filing of the FIR went ahead, citing violations of religious sentiments.
As the legal situation unfolds, her family’s efforts to gain her release continue. Advocates for free speech and legal rights are closely monitoring the case, which has sparked debate about the limits of expression in a country where social media plays a significant role in public discourse.
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