New Delhi: The arrest of Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and influencer, has invited criticism from various quarters. But, for the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal it has had another unintended consequence—bringing leaders of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on the same page, at least on this issue.
Sharmistha was arrested by Kolkata police from Haryana’s Gurugram Friday night in connection with an FIR lodged at Kolkata’s Garden Reach police station last month over an Instagram video on Operation Sindoor in which she made alleged controversial remarks on Prophet Muhammad.
She subsequently deleted the video and issued an apology on 15 May, but the Kolkata Police took her into custody saying she and her family “absconded” and attempts to serve notices to appear for questioning were not successful. On Saturday, Sharmistha was produced before the Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her in judicial custody or 14 days.
What has now further drawn attention to the case is the comment of Dutch politician Geert Wilders, who called the action a “disgrace for freedom of speech” and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene for Sharmistha’s release. Wilders is a leader of the far-right Party for Freedom.
“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,” Wilders said in a post on ‘X’.
Congress MP Karti Chidambaram called the arrest “a blatant misuse of police powers,” adding on X: “These interstate arrests for social media posts (unless it’s clearly demonstrated that it has led to a law and order situation) is blatantly a misuse of police powers.”
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of targeting Hindu voices selectively. “Mamata Banerjee – ‘Maha Kumbh is Mrityu Kumbh’. ‘Jai Shree Ram is insulting abusive cuss word, hurled towards her.’ No legal action. Mahua Moitra – ‘Kali to me is a meat-eating, alcohol-accepting Goddess,’ No legal action… (sic),” he said on ‘X’.
Sharmistha, he said, made a personal comment in wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack where Hindus were “targeted selectively,” which she later deleted and apologized for, “yet was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurgaon.”
“Action is only taken against Sanatanis,” he claimed.
The Hindu woman, according to BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya, was arrested to “appease a vote bank.” “This isn’t just about Bengal — this is about how a young Hindu woman is being targeted to appease a vote bank… Justice must not be politically convenient.”
Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut wrote on Instagram that the Pune Law University student’s apology should have been enough. “She should be released immediately.”
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said, “Where is the outrage when our faith is called ‘Gandha Dharm’? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?”
And then there are the likes of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi who have demanded stricter laws to penalise religious hate speech. “A law should be formulated against such people which gives a punishment of at least 10 years,” he said.
The controversy began on May 14 when AIMIM spokesperson Waris Pathan flagged a video in which Sharmistha allegedly used derogatory language in response to a user defending Pakistan.
On its part, the Kolkata Police defended the arrest of the social media influencer. “All legal procedures were duly adhered to. All attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding. A warrant was issued by a competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully,” it said.
Sharmistha faces serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 196(1)(a) for promoting enmity between groups based on religion, Section 299 for deliberate acts to outrage religious feelings, Section 352 for intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and Section 353(1)(c) for inciting public mischief.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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