Hate Speech or Free Speech? Insta Influencer’s post on 'Operation Sindoor' sparks legal storm

Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer from Pune, was arrested on Friday night in Gurugram, Haryana, by the Kolkata Police. The arrest comes after a controversial Instagram video posted by Panoli, which allegedly contained communal remarks related to "Operation Sindoor." The video triggered widespread backlash and led to the registration of an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for promoting enmity and inciting public mischief.

The Controversial Video and Its Fallout

In the now-deleted Instagram reel, Panoli was seen criticising Bollywood celebrities for their alleged silence on “Operation Sindoor.” The video quickly went viral and was met with outrage across social media platforms. Users accused Panoli of promoting hate speech, leading to a barrage of trolling and threatening comments on her profiles. Despite the criticism, the influencer initially defended her position but later deleted the post.

As the situation escalated, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed in Kolkata under serious charges, including promoting enmity between different communities, deliberate acts intended to outrage religious sentiments, and statements likely to incite public disorder. The specific charges include Sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Arrest and Legal Action

According to police sources, several attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but she remained untraceable. Subsequently, a court in Kolkata issued an arrest warrant. Kolkata Police tracked her down in Gurugram, where she was taken into custody and produced before a local court. She was then brought to Kolkata on a transit remand.

Public Apology and Social Media Clean-Up

Following the backlash, Sharmishta Panoli issued a public apology via her Instagram stories and on X (formerly Twitter). In a May 15 story highlight, she stated, “I never intended to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments. I deeply regret my words.” However, the apology did little to reverse the legal consequences already in motion. She has since made her Instagram account private and deleted posts from her other social media handles.

A Case of Influence Gone Wrong

The arrest of Sharmishta Panoli highlights the growing scrutiny over social media content and the legal accountability influencers face for their public remarks. As debates around freedom of expression and communal harmony intensify, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the fine line between opinion and offence in the digital age. The legal proceedings in Kolkata will now determine the next chapter in Panoli’s controversial rise to online infamy.