Calcutta High Court Grants Interim Bail to Sharmistha Panoli
Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune, was granted interim bail by the Calcutta High Court after her arrest in connection with a controversial video posted on social media. The video, which was deemed offensive to religious sentiments and allegedly connected to Operation Sindoor, led to widespread outrage and legal proceedings.
The student had originally posted the content on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), following which she removed the posts and issued a public apology. Despite her apology, an FIR was lodged against her on May 15, and an arrest warrant followed on May 17. She was eventually taken into custody in Gurugram and brought to Kolkata on transit remand.
Bail Granted After Initial Denial
The Calcutta High Court had initially denied Panoli’s bail plea, remarking that “freedom of speech does not mean you will hurt people.” However, on June 5, the same court granted her interim bail on a bond of ₹10,000. The court noted that while the video content was serious in nature, continued custody was not required at this stage of the legal process.
Legal Stand-Off Over Arrest Procedure
Panoli’s legal team argued that her arrest was unlawful, pointing out that the charges under the FIR were non-cognizable and that she had not been served a prior notice as required under the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS) procedural norms. The state countered that notice was issued but could not be delivered because Panoli and her family were reportedly untraceable.
After reviewing the case diary and hearing both sides, the court decided in favor of granting interim bail while keeping the investigation ongoing.
Family and Public Reactions
The case has ignited debates on the balance between free speech and responsible online conduct, particularly involving young influencers. Panoli’s father, Prithviraj Panoli, publicly stated that the family had distanced themselves from some of her content and hoped the ordeal would serve as a valuable lesson for her.
With her release on interim bail, attention will now turn to the ongoing proceedings and whether this case sets a precedent on the application of BNSS arrest norms and the rights of individuals under scrutiny for digital speech.
