‘Mischievous’: Kolkata Police Defends Sharmishta Panoli’s Arrest After BJP Alleges ‘Vote Bank Politics’

The Kolkata Police on Sunday denied allegations circulating on social media that it had unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan, calling such claims “mischievous and misleading”. The clarification came after the arrest of Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli sparked a political row, with the BJP accusing the West Bengal government of targeting a “young Hindu woman” to appease its vote bank.

According to PTI, the 22-year-old influencer was arrested from Gurugram on Friday night for allegedly uploading a video containing communal remarks and accusing Bollywood actors of remaining silent on Operation Sindoor. She was sent to judicial custody till 13 June by a Kolkata court on Saturday.

In a post on X, the Kolkata Police stated, “Some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan. This narrative is mischievous and misleading.”

The police clarified that a case was registered against Panoli at Garden Reach Police Station on 15 May 2024, based on allegations that she had posted a video “insulting to the religious belief of a class of citizen of India and amounted to promoting disharmony and hatred between different communities”. The case was registered under relevant sections of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), the statement added.

The police further stated that despite multiple attempts to serve notice under Section 35 of BNSS, Panoli was “found absconding”. A warrant of arrest was subsequently issued by the competent court, and she was apprehended lawfully from Gurugram during the daytime. She was then produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per legal procedure. Later, the court sent her to judicial custody.

The Kolkata Police emphasised, “Hate speech targeting any religious figure or community or any class of citizens of India which has potential to incite disharmony and hatred between different communities is a punishable offence in the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Hate speech & abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech & expression as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.”

It also added, “At the time when the whole country stood united and our brave citizens were fighting at the frontier, posting such content on social media which is insulting and demeaning to any class of citizens of India is most abominable act. Any such act will only benefit our enemies.”

Reiterating its stance, the police said, “Kolkata Police acted lawfully according to the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief; legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities.”

“We urge all concerned to act responsibly and refrain from doing anything that would benefit our enemies,” it added.

BJP Alleges ‘Hindu Woman Targeted For Vote Bank Politics’, Cites ‘Uncharacteristic Haste’

Meanwhile, the BJP launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-led West Bengal government over Panoli’s arrest.

BJP’s West Bengal co-incharge Amit Malviya alleged that Panoli had been arrested over a video she had already deleted and apologised for on 15 May. “Sharmishta Panoli, just 22 years old, has been arrested and sent to 14-day judicial custody over a video she had already deleted and publicly apologised for on May 15,” Malviya posted on X.

Claiming that there were no reports of communal unrest linked to her remarks, Malviya said the Kolkata Police was acting with “uncharacteristic haste”.

“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself has made far more divisive statements, which have had far-reaching consequences, including tragic loss of life and destruction of property on multiple occasions,” he added, questioning, “Will the law be applied to her with the same urgency?”

“This isn’t just a case in West Bengal. It reflects how a young Hindu woman is being targeted to appease a vote bank,” Malviya said. “Justice must not be politically convenient. India is watching.”