Sharmistha Panoli is a 22-year-old law student at Pune Law University and a popular social media influencer with over 175,000 followers on platforms like Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).
She gained national attention after posting a controversial video on May 14, 2025, in which she criticized Bollywood actors, particularly “The Khans,” for their silence on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response following the Pahalgam terror attack.
In her video, Panoli used communally charged and abusive language, making remarks that offended many, especially within the Muslim community, which led to widespread backlash and legal complaints against her.
She later deleted the video and issued an unconditional apology, stating she did not intend to hurt anyone and would be more cautious in future posts.
Despite her apology, multiple FIRs were filed, and after failing to respond to legal summons, Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram on May 30, 2025, and remanded to 14-day judicial custody under charges related to promoting enmity between groups and outraging religious feelings under the Indian Penal Code.
Her arrest sparked political debates and support from some public figures, including Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and political leaders like Pawan Kalyan.
Kolkata Police clarified that her arrest was lawful and based on legal procedures due to her sharing offensive content promoting communal hatred, not for expressing patriotism or personal beliefs.