New Delhi: A Pune law student, Sharmistha Panoli, was arrested in Gurugram on Friday night by Kolkata Police for allegedly making offensive remarks in connection with “Operation Sindoor.”
Panoli was arrested for her Instagram video she had uploaded, which, despite being later deleted, reportedly contained “disrespectful and derogatory remarks” targeting a particular religious community.
The controversial clip quickly went viral, igniting widespread outrage and prompting a formal police complaint in Kolkata. Following this, the Kolkata Police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against her. A senior police officer confirmed the case pertained to the Instagram video that “hurt the religious sentiments of members of a particular community,” India Today reported.
Authorities revealed that attempts to serve a legal notice to Panoli proved futile, as she and her family allegedly absconded. This led to a court issuing an arrest warrant, based on which she was subsequently apprehended in Gurugram.
I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY whatever was put are my personal feelings and i never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody so if anybody is hurt I’m sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, i will be cautious in my public post. Again…
— Sharmishta (@Sharmishta__19) May 15, 2025
Amid the escalating controversy, Panoli had publicly tendered an unconditional apology on social media, simultaneously deleting the contentious videos and posts. On X (formerly Twitter), she wrote, “I do hereby tender my unconditional apology. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody, so if anybody is hurt, I’m sorry for the same. I expect co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post. Again, please accept my apologies.”
