On June 5, 2025, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to law student and social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who was arrested for allegedly posting a video containing communal remarks related to ‘Operation Sindoor’. The court directed her to furnish a bail bond of ₹10,000 and mandated that she cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune, was arrested on May 30 in Gurugram after her video criticizing Bollywood celebrities for their silence on ‘Operation Sindoor’ went viral. The video was deemed offensive by some and led to multiple complaints, including one from Wajahat Khan Qadri, who is now facing legal action himself for allegedly posting inflammatory content.

Initially, the Calcutta High Court denied her bail on June 3, emphasizing that freedom of speech does not extend to hurting religious sentiments. However, the court later granted interim bail, noting that the complaint did not disclose a cognizable offense. The court also instructed the police to provide protection to Panoli, as she reported receiving threats following her social media post.

The case has sparked national debate, with figures like Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra and actor Rupali Ganguly criticizing the West Bengal government’s handling of the situation and raising concerns about freedom of expression.

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