Sharmistha Panoli sent to 14-day judicial custody over communal hate speech video

Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer, was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram and sent to 14-day judicial custody for sharing a communal hate speech video.

The video, which Panoli later deleted and apologized for unconditionally, allegedly insulted a community and the Prophet Muhammad, sparking widespread outrage.

"I do hereby tender my unconditional apology. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody," Panoli stated.

She faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 196(1)(a) for promoting enmity between religious groups and Section 299 for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

Kolkata Police defended the arrest, emphasizing that the case concerns communal provocation, not freedom of speech or political views. They stated, "Hate speech targeting any religious figure or community... which has potential to incite disharmony and hatred... is a punishable offence... Hate speech & abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech & expression as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution."

The arrest has ignited political controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the West Bengal government of selective enforcement and appeasement politics. BJP leaders Kangana Ranaut and Amit Malviya condemned the arrest, with Ranaut urging the government not to turn the state into North Korea.

"Harassing someone in the name of law and order is not good, as everyone has democratic rights," Ranaut said.

The influencer also received international support, including from Dutch Parliament member Geert Wilders, who called the arrest a disgrace for freedom of speech.

Panoli, who has over 175,000 followers on social media, had criticized Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor, which added to the controversy.

The case was registered on May 15 at Garden Reach Police Station, and Panoli was arrested after failing to respond to repeated summons.

This incident highlights the ongoing tension between freedom of expression and laws against hate speech in India, especially in politically sensitive contexts.

Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer, was sent to 14-day judicial custody by Kolkata Police for a communal hate speech video. Despite her apology and video removal, she faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, sparking political controversy and debates on freedom of speech.