Instagram influencer Sharmishtha Panoli sent to 13-day judicial custody; BJP accuses TMC of ‘appeasement politics’ | India News

Sharmishtha Panoli (File picture)

NEW DELHI: A 22-year-old Instagram influencer, Sharmishtha Panoli, on Saturday was remanded to 13-day judicial custody after she was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly making communal remarks in a social media video. The regulation scholar, initially from Kolkata’s Anandapur space and at the moment enrolled at a Pune-based college, was apprehended in Gurugram on Friday evening after reportedly evading a number of police summons.The video in query featured Panoli criticising Bollywood actors for his or her silence on Operation Sindoor, as per police sources cited by information company PTI. The publish went viral and triggered a wave of backlash, prompting her to delete the video and challenge an apology. However, by then, a proper grievance had been filed in Kolkata and authorized proceedings had commenced.Panoli was produced in a Kolkata courtroom on Saturday, the place her bail plea was rejected and she or he was remanded to judicial custody till June 13, PTI reported. She has been charged beneath a number of sections associated to selling enmity between teams and inflicting non secular disharmony.

Kolkata Police: ‘Legal procedures followed’

In response to on-line hypothesis in regards to the legality of the arrest, Kolkata Police issued a press release clarifying that each one due course of was adopted.“In reference to Garden Reach Police Station Case No. 136 dated 15.05.2025, certain social media narratives suggesting an unlawful arrest of a law student are factually incorrect and misleading,” the assertion learn. “All legal procedures were duly adhered to. Multiple attempts were made to serve notice, but she was absconding each time. A competent court then issued an arrest warrant, and she was apprehended lawfully from Gurugram.”The assertion added that she was produced earlier than a Justice of the Peace and granted transit remand as per authorized norms.

Suvendu Adhikari slams arrest as ‘appeasement politics’

Reacting to the arrest, BJP chief and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the state authorities of selective motion.“FIRs were filed against Mahua Moitra for derogatory remarks about Goddess Kali. Was any action taken? Saayoni Ghosh made comments about Mahadev. Nothing happened,” Adhikari mentioned. “This is appeasement politics. Action is only taken against Sanatanis while others have a licence to abuse Sanatana Dharma.”Adhikari claimed that a number of FIRs in opposition to TMC leaders had been ignored and accused the ruling occasion of utilizing faith as a political instrument to safe its vote financial institution.