Kolkata/Gurugram: A wave of public support has erupted across social media for Sharmistha Panoli, a Pune-based law student arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram on Friday night. The arrest was made over a now-deleted Instagram video in which Panoli allegedly made offensive remarks linked to Operation Sindoor and a particular religion.

The video, though removed, had already gone viral, sparking public outrage and leading to the registration of an FIR in Kolkata. Since her arrest, social media has become a battleground of contrasting opinions, with many users accusing the authorities of selective action and political bias.

Public reactions: Comparisons, criticism and trending hashtags

Social media platforms have seen a groundswell of support under hashtags like #ReleaseSharmistha and #IStandWithSharmistha. Supporters argue that Panoli is being targeted for expressing her views, and several posts have drawn comparisons to other high-profile cases to highlight perceived double standards.

One viral post compared her arrest to the 2022 Udaipur murder case of tailor Kanhaiya Lal, where the accused, Mohammad Riyaz and Ghouse Mohammad, were reportedly granted bail. The user wrote, “These 2 Jihadis went to Kanhaiya Lal's shop, did STSJ, made a video & confessed. Yet got bail—court 'can’t trace them.' Meanwhile, Mamata’s Kolkata Police arrest Sharmistha for abusing Pakistanis.”

Another user questioned the political motivations behind her arrest, alleging, “Whatever Sharmistha said about the three Khans and Pakistanis, she was absolutely true. But Mamata Banerjee needs the Muslim vote, so she got her arrested, and Bengal Police can't do anything else.”

Comparisons were also drawn with Jyoti Malhotra, another lady previously arrested for spying for Pakistan. “Look, they have arrested Sharmistha too... Where has the so-called Hinduist government gone... Right wingers will keep falling prey to this... And only the left and liberals will reap the benefits.”

Who is Sharmistha Panoli and what did she say?

Sharmistha Panoli is a law student based in Pune who had posted a video commenting on Operation Sindoor, a befitting reply by the Indian military in the wake of Pahalgam terror attack. The remarks she made were deemed derogatory and inflammatory by some viewers, particularly in reference to religious sentiments.

Though the original video was later deleted, screenshots and clips continued to circulate online, prompting swift public backlash and a formal complaint in Kolkata.

Legal action and apology

Authorities claim that Panoli evaded multiple attempts to be served with a legal notice. As a result, a court issued an arrest warrant, and she was apprehended in Gurugram and brought into custody by Kolkata Police.

In response to the controversy, Panoli issued an unconditional apology on social media, stating “Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody... Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post.”