Kolkata, 1 June (H.S.) – The Kolkata Police defended the arrest of social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli from Gurugram, asserting that all legal procedures were strictly followed in connection with a case registered at the Garden Reach police station.

Panoli, a resident of Anandapur in Kolkata and a law student enrolled at Pune’s Law University, was arrested late Friday night in Gurugram for allegedly uploading a video containing communal remarks related to ‘Operation Sindoor’. She was brought to Kolkata and produced before a magistrate’s court on Saturday, which rejected her bail plea and sent her to judicial custody until June 13.

Police officials stated that she has been charged under sections related to promoting enmity between different groups, outraging religious sentiments, and provoking breach of peace.

In response to growing criticism on social media labelling the arrest as unlawful, Kolkata Police issued a public clarification through its official social media handle, calling the circulating narratives “factually incorrect and misleading.”

“In reference to Garden Reach Police Station Case No. 136 dated May 15, 2025, all legal procedures were duly adhered to,” the police wrote. “Despite multiple attempts, she could not be served notice as she was absconding. A warrant was then issued by a competent court, following which she was arrested lawfully from Gurugram. She was produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per due process of law.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh