Sharmishta Panoli, a Pune Law University student and Instagram influencer, was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram on Friday night for allegedly posting a video with communal overtones related to Operation Sindoor.
The video, which Panoli uploaded on social media, criticised several Bollywood actors for remaining silent on Operation Sindoor — a recent military operation launched by India on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 that killed 26 people. The post quickly went viral and sparked significant outrage online.
Panoli faced severe backlash, including threatening messages and harsh comments. Under pressure, she deleted the video and issued a public apology. However, the damage had been done — the Kolkata Police registered a complaint and issued legal notices to her and her family.
Authorities revealed that Panoli distanced herself from her family, making it difficult to serve the legal notices. Consequently, the matter was taken to court, which issued an arrest warrant against her. Police then tracked her down and arrested her in Gurugram.
A police officer stated, “Despite multiple attempts to deliver legal notices, Panoli and her family remained unreachable. After securing a court order, Kolkata Police arrested her on Friday night.”
Operation Sindoor was launched as a strategic response to the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam and involved precision strikes aimed at dismantling terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The military operation has been a sensitive and emotive topic across India, prompting widespread reactions and discussions online and offline.
Sources By Agencies