Sharmistha Panoli Arrested By West Bengal Police Even After An Apology

In this video we examine the recent controversy surrounding Sharmishta Panoli, a 22‑year‑old law student and Instagram influencer who was arrested by Kolkata Police at her Gurugram residence after a now‑deleted video in which she allegedly made offensive remarks about Prophet Muhammad while discussing ‘Operation Sindoor’. The clip went viral, sparking outrage across sections of the Muslim community and leading to an FIR filed by the Rashidi Foundation. Sharmishta was booked under IPC sections related to promoting enmity and hurting religious sentiments, despite issuing an unconditional apology and removing the content. Her arrest has triggered a nationwide debate on freedom of speech, hypocrisy, and political bias. Right‑wing supporters argue that this is a clear violation of free speech, yet the same voices had earlier demanded the arrest of comedians like Munawar Faruqui for allegedly insulting Hindu deities, highlighting a double standard. At the same time, the West Bengal government has taken no major action against individuals involved in the WASP protest in Murshidabad, where Hindus were allegedly targeted. The complainant who filed the case against Sharmishta has a history of mocking Hindu gods online, raising questions about selective outrage and biased enforcement of laws. This video does not take sides but aims to highlight how free speech in India often becomes a political tool, supported or condemned depending on who says what and which religion is being discussed.