The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli. The 22-year-old was arrested over her alleged communal remarks related to Operation Sindoor. The court asked her to submit a bail bond of ₹10,000.
Arrest Over Comments on Operation Sindoor
Kolkata Police arrested Panoli from Gurugram, Haryana, last week. She faced charges of hurting religious sentiments through a controversial video she posted online. In that video, she criticised Bollywood celebrities in the context of Operation Sindoor. After receiving backlash, she removed the video and posted an apology.
Initial Bail Plea Rejected
Earlier this week, the court had rejected her first request for interim bail. Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee said, “Look, we have freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with people from different castes, creeds, and religions. We must be cautious by saying this. So, the day after tomorrow. Heavens will not fall.” The court also ordered the West Bengal government to present the case diary on June 5.
Defence Claims No Crime Committed
Panoli’s lawyer argued that her comments did not qualify as a criminal offence. He pointed out that a heated exchange was already happening online between users in India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. This operation was India’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists.
Political Controversy in Bengal
Her arrest sparked a political row in West Bengal. The Opposition BJP accused the state government of double standards. They called it “selective enforcement” and slammed the Kolkata Police for what they described as “uncharacteristic haste” in arresting her.
