Political Row Erupts Over Sharmishta Panoli’s Arrest

The arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli has triggered a major political row, with several leaders accusing the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of practicing selective action and “appeasement politics".

Panoli, a student from Pune known for her outspoken social media content, often containing strong language, was arrested by West Bengal Police on Thursday from Haryana’s Gurugram. Her arrest came after the circulation of a now-deleted video in which she allegedly made communal remarks while criticising Bollywood actors for not speaking up on Operation Sindoor.

Police said the video contained “derogatory and disrespectful" language targeting a particular religious community. Panoli later deleted the video and issued a public apology.

Now her arrest drew sharp criticism from political leaders. West Bengal BJP President and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said the arrest was politically motivated, claiming, “Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee’s police acted overnight — not for justice, but for appeasement. 

Actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut also came out in defence of Sharmishta Panoli, expressing concern via her Instagram Stories over what she called excessive punitive action. Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that Panoli had apologised for her words but was still punished. “But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called ‘Gandha Dharm’? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest? Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn’t a shield for some and a sword for others. 

Congress leader Karti P Chidambaram also took to X and condemned the arrest. “These interstate arrests for social media posts (unless it’s clearly demonstrated that it has led to a law & order situation) is blatantly a misuse of police powers," he wrote. Maharashtra BJP leader Nitesh Rane wrote: “Ramgiri Maharaj speaks the truth..it’s a problem.. Sharmistha speaks the truth.. apologies about it.. delete the posts.. it’s still a problem.. but when Sanathan Dharma is attacked every day by the WB TMC leaders .. there is no apology.. why? Then the secular kids come out to give lectures.. where is the so-called Sarv Dharma Sama Bhav gone then? 

International voices also joined the debate, including Dutch MP Geert Wilders, who posted on X: “Free the brave Sharmishta Panoli! It’s a disgrace for the freedom of speech that she was arrested. Don’t punish her for speaking the truth about Pakistan and Muhammad. Help her @narendramodi!."