"Harakiri Arrest": Influencer Sharmishta Panoli's Lawyer On Police Action
Quick Read
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Law student and influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested in a controversial manner, with her lawyer claiming police bypassed arrest rules. Accused of inciting religious tensions, she is in judicial custody. Criticism of her arrest has surfaced.
Kolkata:
Law student and influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested in a "harakiri" manner and the police have bypassed the basic rules of arrest, her lawyer Mohammed Shamimuddin has said.
"They went to her house. But there was no one at home so the police sought a warrant from magistrate and arrested her. They didn't attempt to contact her on the phone either. This shows how the police acted in a harakiri manner and the ground on which the Kolkata police custody was denied," he told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
Ms Panoli, who has been accused of outraging religious feelings, promoting enmity between groups, deliberate insult to provoke breach of peace and incitement to public mischief, was placed in judicial custody by a court in Kolkata on Saturday.
The 22-year-old was arrested from Gurugram on Friday, after her Instagram post had outraged many.
The legal action came after she had tendered an unconditional apology and withdrew her post. Kolkata police have been criticized by many over her arrest and the manner of it and there has been a demand from many, including the Bar Council, that she be released.
The video posted on May 14 - that has since been deleted, was apparently a response to comments from a Pakistani user. In it, the fourth-year law student had criticised Bollywood celebrities for their alleged silence on Operation Sindoor and made communally charged remarks that offended many and led to a call for her arrest.
The Kolkata Police have maintained that they followed due process and made a lawful arrest based on the court's warrant.
"The police are investigating why such statement was made by her and if she was provoked or other people involved. Her phone and laptop have been seized by the police. They have recorded her statement," her lawyer said.
He also claimed that she has not been given access to a hygienic toilet, and her requests for newspapers and magazines have also has been denied.
"We have brought this to the magistrate's attention. The jail super has been directed to file a report by June 4," he said. "The next legal recourse is being decided and will be taken in the next 2-3 days, and we will push for her bail," he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
24 minutes ago
- Mint
PM Modi to flag off first train to Kashmir on Friday: Here's why it is India's historic rail milestone
The stage is all set for the first-ever train to Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will finally inaugurate the first Vande Bharat Express train to Kashmir on 6 June from Jammu after the completion of the 272-km Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project. This will be Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after 'Operation Sindoor' – India's precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan launched on 7 May in response to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. Modi will flag off the train services from the Shri at Vaishno Devi (SMVD) railway station in Katra, Jammu to Baramulla in north Kashmir. Modi will also flag off another train from Baramulla to Katra on the occasion. Trains have been running between Banihal and Baramulla in the Kashmir valley, and between Jammu, Udhampur and Katra in Jammu region. But the 111-km Katra-Banihal section was the most difficult to construct owing to the challenging terrain. Modi will also inaugurate the highest railway arch bridge over river Chenab and India's first cable-stayed Anji Khad bridge on the occasion. He is also expected to address a rally on the occasion. Earlier, the inauguration of the much-awaited train was scheduled for 19 April, however, it was postponed dur to bad weather. Three days later Pahalgam terror attack happened in Kashmir. The development will end over 70 years of wait for a direct train service to Kashmir linking the valley to rest of India first time throough a rail link. At present, trains are operational just between Sangaldan and Baramulla in the Valley and from Katra to across the country. The Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link (USBRL) Project was initially sanctioned in 1995 during the time of Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, at an estimated cost of ₹ 2,500 crore. While the ambitious project to connect Kashmir by train began in 1997, it was commissioned in bits and parts and faced multiple delays due to geographical challenges posed by the terrain. However, it gained momentum after then-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee designated it as a national initiative in 2002. In 2009, Qazigund - Baramulla section in Kashmir was rendered operational, following which in 2013, the 18-km Banihal - Qazigund section, and in 2014 - the 24-km Udhampur - Katra section was started. In 2023, the section between Banihal and Sangaldan was started and now the connectivity between Sangaldan and Katra, which is believed to be the most difficult of all sections has been completed. The Banihal-Katra section contains 97 km of tunnels and 7 km of bridges. In December 2024, Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Union Minister of Railways, said that the final track construction of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link was finished. "Historic milestone; final track work on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is complete. The ballastless track work for the 3.2 km-long Tunnel T-33, located at the foothills of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and connecting Katra to Reasi, was successfully completed today at 02:00 hrs," he wrote on X The famous Chenab Bridge, the world's tallest railway bridge standing 359 meters above mean sea level, is also part of the track and will enhance the picturesque route connecting Jammu and Srinagar. At an estimated cost of over ₹ 43,000 crore, the USBR Lproject involved laying out ballast less tracks over bridges and tunnels, spanning deep gorges, with 90 per cent of the route traversed over 943 bridges, and 36 main tunnels, including India's longest railway tunnel, T-50 stretching more than 12.7 km. On the Katra - Banihal section, the train will also traverse another engineering marvel, the Anji Khad bridge, which is India's first cable-stayed bridge. Supported by 96 cables, the 725-meter-long bridge stands 331 meters above mean sea level. For now, only one Kashmir-specific Vande Bharat train will ply on the Katra and Srinagar route to Baramulla. More trains will start plying on the route based on the public response, officials said. Earlier a direct train from Delhi to Srinagar was expected. But due to security and weather reasons, the passengers would have to get down at the Katra railway station and board another train to continue the journey forward to Kashmir. In February, Vaishnaw said that passengers who want to travel from Delhi to Srinagar can book one ticket and change the train at Katra railway. All passengers boarding the train to Srinagar from Delhi or vice versa or from any other part of the country would have to undergo thorough frisking. Besides, their luggage would be screened at the time of boarding. The luggage would then undergo fresh scanning at departure lounges once the passengers get down at the Katra station. Before they board another train, they would again be subjected to frisking by the security personnel. The trains will ply on the Kashmir route only during the daytime. No trains would ply during evening hours in the Valley. The Kashmir version of Vande Bharat is equipped with climate-specific adaptations to provide advance heating systems in sub-zero temperatures, driver's front lookout glass embedded with heating elements for defrosting, and to ensure clear visibility during harsh winters. The region's connectivity with the rest of the country would be improved with the completion of the USBRL Project and the launch of direct Vande Bharat trains between Kashmir and Delhi via Jammu. In addition to addressing logistical issues, this will boost economic expansion and encourage travel. -The total cost of Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail link project is about ₹ 43,000 crore. -The seamless all-weather connectivity links Kashmir Valley to the rest of India for the first time through a rail link. -The connectivity will boost the local economy and trade by offering easier transport if local goods like apples, saffron and handicrafts to major Indian markets. Until now, these products had to be transported through Jammu and Kashmir Highway which gets affected by harsh weather during winters. -The rail link will also improve access to popular destinations like Gulmarg and Pahalgam. Tourism in Kashmir Valley was severly affeceted after Pahalgam terror attack. Historic milestone; final track work on the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link is complete. -Officials said that the project will also create employment opportunities in railway, tourism, and logistics sectors. -Above all, it simplifies travel to major cities for medical care and universities.
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Shiva Rajkumar joins RCB celebrations with emotional tribute after 18-year IPL wait ends
Picture Credit: Instagram Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar expressed his immense joy and pride after Virat Kohil's team Royal Challengers Bangalore were crowned champions last night for the first time, ending an 18-year wait that had been filled with hope and heartbreak for fans. The victory was celebrated across the nation, with stars from the entertainment industry and cricket enthusiasts sharing their happiness on social media. On Instagram Shiva Rajkumar posted a heartfelt message filled with emotion, using 17 heart emojis followed by an 18th heart accompanied by a trophy emoji. His post showed the deep love and passion RCB fans have held for their team over the years. He called RCB the "Champions of Heart". He tweeted, " ( + ) The Champions of Heart are now the owners of the cup. Congratulations" In other news, Shiva Rajkumar and Tamil legend Kamal Haasan have recently been at the center of a heated controversy surrounding Kamal Haasan's remarks about the Kannada language. The 'Indian' actor's statement at an event that "Kannada was born out of Tamil", has led to a widespread backlash in Karnataka. Initially, Shiva Rajkumar came to Kamal Haasan's defense, calling him a long-time inspiration and expressing admiration for his contributions to cinema and Kannada culture. However, just days later, Shiva Rajkumar changed his stance. In a recent statement, he admitted that he did not fully understand Kamal Haasan's remark at the time and, upon reviewing the video later, acknowledged that the comment was inappropriate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Durable Perforated Stainless Steel Sheets Online – Trusted Suppliers Stainless Steel Sheets | Search ADS Search Now Undo Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has stood firm, refusing to apologize for his statement, insisting that his words were spoken out of affection and based on historical linguistic studies. On the other hand, Shiva Rajkumar has multiple films in his pipeline, he will be seen in the upcoming Ram Charan starrer 'Peddi'. Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Mint
30 minutes ago
- Mint
Terror-linked spying network busted in Punjab; YouTuber Jasbir Singh among key figures
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav tweets, "...State Special Operations Cell, Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of village Mahlan, Rupnagar. Jasbir Singh, who operates a YouTube channel called 'Jaan Mahal,' has been found associated with PIO Shakir alias Jutt Randhawa, part of a terror-backed espionage network. He also maintained close contact with Haryana-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra (arrested for spying) and Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, a Pakistani national and expelled Pak High Commission official. Investigations have revealed that Jasbir attended the Pakistan National Day event in Delhi on Danish's invitation, where he met Pakistani Army officials and vloggers. He travelled to Pakistan on three occasions (2020, 2021, 2024), and his electronic devices contained multiple Pakistan-based numbers, now under detailed forensic scrutiny. After Jyoti Malhotra's arrest, Jasbir attempted to erase all traces of his communications with these PIOs to avoid detection. An FIR has been registered at SSOC, Mohali. Investigations are underway to dismantle the broader espionage-terror network and identify all collaborators..."
