Instagram Influencer Arrested Over Controversial Posts Regarding Bollywood Stars
Sharmistha Panoli, a law student and Instagram influencer, has been arrested by Kolkata police for her controversial posts criticizing Bollywood actors regarding their silence on Operation Sindoor. Following significant backlash from users, she deleted her video and apologized, but legal actions had already been initiated against her. The police struggled to serve notices to her family, leading to her eventual arrest in Gurugram. Currently, she remains in police custody as the investigation continues.
| May 31, 2025, 18:36 IST
Arrest of Sharmistha Panoli
Sharmistha Panoli, an Instagram influencer, has been apprehended by Kolkata police in Gurugram and placed in judicial custody until June 12 due to her controversial posts targeting Bollywood actors related to Operation Sindoor. In a video shared on Instagram, she criticized several film stars for their silence on the operation, allegedly using inappropriate language against them. Currently a law student at a university in Pune, she was arrested on Friday. According to police sources, her arrest stemmed from a post where she pointed out that Hindi film actors remained silent regarding Operation Sindoor.
Details of the Arrest
Kolkata police confirmed the arrest of the influencer for posting a communal video that criticized Bollywood actors for their lack of response to Operation Sindoor. The authorities revealed this information on Saturday. The accused, identified as Sharmistha Panoli, a student from a Pune law university, was taken into custody on Friday night in Gurugram. Police sources indicated that Panoli uploaded a video on Instagram accusing Hindi film actors of remaining silent about the operation. This post sparked significant backlash, with many users trolling her and posting threatening comments.
Response and Legal Action
Facing criticism, Panoli deleted the video and issued an apology. However, a complaint had already been filed against her in Kolkata. Subsequently, notices were sent to her and her family. A police officer from Kolkata stated that repeated attempts to serve legal notices were unsuccessful, leading to the conclusion that her family had fled. Consequently, the case was brought before the court, resulting in a warrant being issued for her arrest, which led to her capture in Gurugram. She is currently in police custody.