Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune, has found herself at the center of a major controversy after being arrested in Gurugram for a social media post allegedly linked to Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military response to cross-border terrorism.
The arrest, which has triggered widespread debate online, follows an FIR lodged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
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Section 196(1)(a): Promoting enmity between different groups
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Section 299: Malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings
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Section 352: Intentional insult provoking breach of peace
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Section 353(1)(c): Inciting public mischief
Panoli had deleted the controversial post from Instagram and issued an unconditional apology via both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“I never intended to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments.“
She also made her Instagram account private and wiped her alternate handles, but a May 15 story highlight featuring her apology remains.
After her arrest, Panoli was produced before a Gurugram court and subsequently transferred to Kolkata on transit remand. She is scheduled to be presented before a Kolkata court on May 31, where her legal team is expected to challenge the arrest, citing procedural flaws and her earlier apology.
The case has rapidly gained traction on platforms like X, with hashtags like #ReleaseSharmishta and #ArrestSharmishta trending, reflecting polarized public opinion.
While some view her arrest as necessary to prevent communal disharmony, others argue it infringes upon freedom of expression and point to her swift public apology as evidence of remorse.
Operation Sindoor is India’s multi-front initiative against Pakistan-backed terrorism following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives. The operation has seen strong support from Indian political and security establishments and has dominated public discourse.
All eyes are now on the Kolkata court proceedings, which will determine whether Sharmishta Panoli faces formal charges or gets interim relief. Legal experts believe the outcome could have wider implications for online speech laws and youth activism in politically sensitive matters.
