📌 At a glance:
Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and content creator, just went from Instagram reels to police wheels. Arrested for a controversial post on Operation Sindoor, she’s now the face of India’s latest free speech vs. hate speech debate. Apologies, court dates, political drama — it’s all here, and trending.
1. Who Even Is Sharmistha Panoli?
She’s not a politician, not a Bollywood celeb, not even a blue-ticked influencer (yet). Just a 22-year-old student of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, with opinions, a front camera, and absolutely no chill.
Sharmistha Panoli has been posting spicy hot takes on Instagram — part patriotic, part provocative — and now the government thinks she might’ve added too much mirchi.
Before May 2025, she was just another law student. After May 30? A national headline, a trending hashtag, and a courtroom regular.
2. What Did She Post? (And Why Did It Backfire?)
Let’s rewind.
India launchedOperation Sindoor, a major military offensive after a terrorist attack killed 26 Indian soldiers in Pahalgam. Naturally, the whole country was grieving. Emotions were high. Patriotism was peaking.
Then, Sharmistha posted avideo response to a Pakistani follower, questioning Bollywood celebrities’ silence on Operation Sindoor. So far, okay. But in the same reel, she allegedly maderemarks about Islam and the Prophet— triggering not just netizens but actualpolice FIRs.
👉Lesson: If your audience includes law enforcement, maybe rethink the punchline.
3. FIR? What FIR?
Oh, just a few sections of India’s freshly polished criminal laws:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 295A– for deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
- Section 153A– promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion.
- And a little garnish of IT Act charges for that digital flavor.
An FIR was filed in Kolkata. Then she went quiet. Then the arrest warrant came out. Then Kolkata Police travelled to Gurugram and… boom,Panoli was arrested on May 30.
That escalated quickly.
4. Was She Apologetic?
Oh yes. The classic sequence played out:
- Post goes viral
- People get mad
- Influencer deletes post
- Influencer posts apology
- Internet says “too late”
- Cops say “see you in court”
Sharmistha said she never meant to hurt religious sentiments. But with the video circulating and political climate charged, the damage was already done.
5. Enter Kangana Ranaut, Stage Right
Because no controversy in India is complete without Kangana’s commentary.
BJP MP and Bollywood firestarter Kangana Ranaut came out in support of Panoli. Her take?
“Words were distasteful, yes. But this doesn’t deserve jail. Release her.”
Kangana then compared the situation to her own experiences and doubled down on free speech rights — because of course she did.
So now, the case isn’t just about law and order. It’sKolkata vs Kangana. Buckle up.
6. Judicial Custody and What Next?
Sharmistha has been sent tojudicial custody till June 13. Her legal team
