The Calcutta High Court has denied interim bail to Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and Instagram influencer from South Kolkata, who was arrested for allegedly posting hate speech targeting a specific community on the social media platform X. Despite deleting the controversial post, Panoli continued to receive threats, prompting her family to relocate. Her lawyer argued that her arrest was illegal and detrimental to her health, citing her ADHD and kidney issues. However, the court emphasized that while freedom of speech is protected, it does not justify hurting the sentiments of others in a diverse country like India. The court declined to grant immediate bail and requested the case diary before further proceedings. The matter is scheduled for re-evaluation on Thursday, with the Garden Reach FIR designated as the principal case.

This development underscores the judiciary’s stance that constitutional freedom of expression must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of law, especially when it concerns communal sensitivities.

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