Latest news with #PrithvirajPanoli
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
'Hope she learnt a lesson': Sharmistha Panoli gets bail; father says ‘we didn't like some of her videos'
NEW DELHI: As 22-year-old law student Sharmistha Panoli walked out of custody on interim bail granted by the Calcutta high court, her father, Prithviraj Panoli, admitted that even the family had disapproved of some of her social media posts. 'She would show us some videos, even we did not like some videos and we would tell her that,' he said, adding that they had deleted some of them and had asked her to remove the one that eventually led to her arrest. 'This must have been a good lesson for her,' he said. The Calcutta high court on Thursday granted interim bail to 22-year-old law student and influencer Sharmistha Panoli, arrested for allegedly uploading a video that hurt religious sentiments. While the legal proceedings continue, her father, Prithviraj Panoli, opened up emotionally about the arrest, her health, and their family's reaction to her online content. 'I am very happy, no father wants his daughter to be in jail,' he said. 'She has a kidney problem and Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is necessary for her to take medicines, but since we didn't have the prescription, we couldn't give her medicine in jail. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tecno Pova Curve 5G - 144hz Curve Feels Like No Phone Before TECNO Mobile Book Now Undo This must have been a good lesson to her. She will do well from now on.' When asked whether they were aware of the controversial content Sharmistha had been posting, Panoli was candid: 'She would show us some videos, even we did not like some videos and we would tell her that. We had also deleted some of the videos. When she posted that video, we had asked her to delete the video. This (the case) must have been a good lesson for her.' Sharmistha was arrested by Kolkata Police on May 30 from a hotel in Gurugram. The arrest stemmed from a video she posted regarding Operation Sindoor, which was deemed communal in nature. Though she had deleted the video and issued an apology on May 15, an FIR was lodged against her at the Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata. Granting her bail, the court noted the complaint did not disclose any cognisable offence. The conditions for bail include surrendering her passport, cooperating with the investigation, and furnishing a personal bond of Rs 10,000. The court also directed that she be given police protection due to threats received after the video went viral. The arrest sparked wider political reactions, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari calling it 'police overzealousness' and 'a case of police atrocities'.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
Influencer Sharmishta Panoli's father says she didn't run away: ‘Was in touch with police till May 26'
The father of 22-year-old social media influencer and law student Sharmishta Panoli on Wednesday rejected Kolkata Police's claim that she had run away after police served her notice following the registration of an FIR against her for hate speech. Instead, he said, that her daughter had approached the cyber cell of Kolkata Police on May 15 to complain about the threats she has been receiving following her Instagram posts. In a video and written statement released by her father, Prithviraj Panoli, he said: 'Sharmistha was in Pune till May 15. Due to the social media post, she was getting a lot of threat calls and she called me around midnight on May 14 asking me what to do. On May 15, we met senior cyber cell officers at Lal Bazar.' He said that he and his daughter went to Anandapur Police Station, which is under the jurisdiction of Kolkata Police, seven times between May 15 and May 19 to register online and mobile threats received by her. 'I was in touch with Lalbazar police till May 26 through WhatsApp communications, since all our normal calls were deactivated to avoid the online and mobile threats from all over India and abroad. From May 22 onwards, Sharmistha started her internship in Delhi. She continued with her internship till May 29 till West Bengal Police arrested her on May 30,' her father claimed. Prithviraj Panoli also accused the police of not providing him with the copy of the FIR registered against his daughter. 'Out of fear, we went to Delhi. We or Sharmistha were not absconding or running away from the police,' he said. 'As per information received, West Bengal Police conducted searches at places like Saharanpur, Noida, and Ghaziabad, even though we were in a single hotel in Gurugram for the entire period from May 20 till May 30, till Sharmistha was arrested,' he claimed. Panoli was arrested from Gurgaon, Haryana, by the Kolkata Police on May 30. She was brought to Kolkata on transit remand and remanded to judicial custody till June 13. Her interim bail plea was rejected by the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday.
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
'My Daughter Didn't Abscond...': Influencer Sharmistha Panoli's Father On Her Arrest
Last Updated: Sharmistha Panoli was arrested on May 30 following an FIR lodged against her over an Instagram video related to 'Operation Sindoor'. Father of 22-year-old Pune law student and social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who was recently arrested by Kolkata Police on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity, said that his daughter was in Gurugram for a pre-scheduled legal internship and not avoiding police action. Sharmistha Panoli was arrested on May 30 following an FIR lodged against her at Garden Reach Police Station over an Instagram video related to 'Operation Sindoor'. Police said she was untraceable before her arrest, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant. Internship Planned Before FIR, Says Sharmistha Panoli's Father In a written statement, Sharmistha Panoli's father Prithviraj Panoli clarified that his daughter had travelled to Gurugram to begin an internship with a reputed Delhi-based advocate. 'Sharmistha began her internship at Nehru Enclave on May 22. Prior to that, she had also completed internships in Delhi earlier this year," he said. Sharmistha Panoli had travelled to Kolkata from Pune, where she studies law, on May 15—the same day the FIR was registered, he said. Sharmistha Panoli's Father Says They Remained In Touch With Police Prithviraj Panoli said that communication with Kolkata Police's cyber cell continued through WhatsApp until May 26. 'We deactivated regular calls because of the constant threats coming from across the country and abroad," he said, adding that Sharmistha continued her internship until May 29, the day before her arrest. He said, 'As per information received, WB Police conducted many searches in Saharanpur, Noida, Ghaziabad etc. even though, we were put up in a single hotel in Gurugram for the entire period from 20th May early morning till 30th May till Sharmishta was arrested." About the Author Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" First Published: June 04, 2025, 20:25 IST
