Kolkata, June 1, 2025 — Social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli has been remanded to judicial custody until June 13 following her arrest over allegedly objectionable remarks made against Prophet Muhammad in a video posted on Instagram.
The 22-year-old student, currently enrolled at Symbiosis Law School in Pune, was taken into custody by Kolkata Police from Gurugram, Haryana. The arrest followed a complaint filed at Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata, where an FIR was registered for hurting religious sentiments under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The video in question was uploaded on May 14 and quickly drew widespread criticism, prompting Panoli to delete the content and issue a public apology. Despite this, legal proceedings continued, and she was served multiple notices before being arrested.
Authorities brought her to Kolkata on a transit remand and presented her before the Alipore Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court. The prosecution argued for police custody, stating that the matter required further investigation, including the possibility of external influence or coordination. However, the court opted for judicial custody.
Panoli’s legal team contended that she had already expressed remorse and was cooperating fully with the investigation. They also revealed that she had been facing online threats since the incident and that her mobile phone and other digital devices had been seized as part of the inquiry.
The case has drawn political attention as well, with opposition leaders criticizing the West Bengal government’s actions. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of political bias and claimed the arrest was an attempt at appeasement.
The incident has reignited discussions around the limits of free speech, the responsibilities of content creators, and the importance of maintaining communal harmony in a digital age.
