Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Influencer Sharmishtha Panoli Amid Free Speech Controversy

Calcutta High Court Grants Bail to Influencer Sharmishtha Panoli Amid Free Speech Controversy

Last Updated Jun - 05 - 2025, 05:01 PM | Source : Fela News

Influencer Sharmishtha Panoli receives interim bail after arrest over Instagram video; legal experts raise free speech, selective enforcement concerns.

The Calcutta High Court recently allow interim bail to social media influencer and law student Sharmishtha Panoli, who was arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through an Instagram video. Her arrest on May 30 led to strong reactions across legal circles, as the case asked questions about freedom of speech and picked-up enforcement of the law.

Panoli, 22, was taken into custody by Kolkata Police from Gurugram and later dispatched to judicial custody until June 13. Her legal team moved towards the High Court for relief, debating that her actions fell under the scope of free speech. They pointed out that she had already removed the controversial video and issued a public apology.

Granting her bail, the court asked her to furnish a bond of ₹10,000 and command authorities to provide her with basic requirements while in custody. It also directed the state not to file any new FIRs related to the same issue.

The case originated from a complaint filed by Wajahat Khan Qadri, who alleged that Panoli had shared "communal" content in a video where she discourses Bollywood's silence on 'Operation Sindoor'. However, in a twist, police have since filed an FIR against Qadri himself for allegedly posting inflammatory content. Authorities verified that he is currently slipping away.

Panoli’s arrest has sparked a reaction in the legal community. Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India, called the arrest a "grave miscarriage of justice" and accused the West Bengal government of enforcing laws selectively based on community identity. The incident has reignited debates around freedom of expression and fair application of law in the digital age.

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