Latest news with #SharmishthaPanoli
India Gazette
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Directed Chief Secretary, DGP of West Bengal to ensure her safety": NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo on Sharmishtha Panoli's arrest
New Delhi [India], June 2 (ANI): National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo on Monday said that the commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) in West Bengal, directing them to ensure the safety of social media influencer Sharmishtha Panoli, who was recently arrested for posting an alleged communal post, owing to 'rape and death threats' against the accused. He said that the Legal Rights Observatory lodged a complaint with the NHRC, alleging that proper legal procedures were not followed during the arrest of Panoli, who was arrested by the West Bengal police from Haryana's Gurugram on May 30. 'We received a complaint from an organisation called Legal Rights Observatory regarding a law student, who was arrested by West Bengal Police from Haryana in the middle of the night over an allegedly objectionable social media post. The complaint alleges that proper legal procedures were not followed during her arrest and transit. It also states that the girl has received threats from radical Islamists, including rape and death threats,' Kanoongo told ANI. He added that NHRC would decide on its next course of action after inquiring whether proper legal protocols were followed during Panoli's arrest. 'We have issued a notice to the Chief Secretary and DGP of West Bengal, directing them to ensure her safety, especially as she is now in judicial custody. Additionally, we have sought clarification from the Haryana government on whether all legal protocols were followed. Based on the responses, we will decide the next course of action,' Kanoongo added. Earlier, Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, strongly condemned the arrest of law student Sharmishtha Panoli. He issued a statement stating that her detention over a now-deleted social media video--despite her immediate apology--has sparked outrage, with Mishra denouncing it as a grave miscarriage of justice and a direct attack on freedom of expression. Mishra asserted that the Bengal government and Kolkata Police have repeatedly demonstrated selective enforcement of the law, targeting individuals from specific communities while overlooking more serious offences committed by others. He pointed to historical injustices in West Bengal, such as the Marichjhanpi massacre, Nandigram violence, and politically motivated killings, as evidence of systemic failures in the state's justice system. Recent incidents, including the Murshidabad riots, further exemplify what he termed 'appeasement politics,' where the state shields perpetrators of violence against certain groups while swiftly punishing those who express dissent. Law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli was taken into custody by Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Friday night after facing intense backlash over a video she shared earlier this month. The now-deleted footage allegedly featured communally sensitive language and remarks that sparked outrage online and led to legal proceedings. (ANI)
Deccan Herald
a day ago
- Deccan Herald
Arrested influencer 'denied' basic amenities in jail, petition filed in Kolkata court
The Kolkata Police had arrested Sharmishtha Panoli from Haryana's Gurugram on Friday night for allegedly uploading a video with communal comments claiming Bollywood actors were silent on Operation Sindoor.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
‘Not targeting patriotism': Kolkata Police's full statement on lawyer arrest after int'l backlash
Kolkata police on Sunday issued a detailed defence of its decision to arrest 22-year-old law student and influencer Sharmishtha Panoli, who has been accused of stoking communal hatred through a social media video. Facing flak from several quarters over the move, the force insisted that Panoli's arrest had nothing to do with her patriotism or anti-Pakistan stance, but stemmed from the use of abusive and divisive language that, it said, crossed legal boundaries. Show more 03:02 04:45 02:06 02:38 02:11 04:35 03:02 03:27 05:31 02:58 03:15 13:50 07:44 04:03 02:44 03:50 05:34 03:09 13:07 09:54 10:09 06:39 03:01 02:22 05:06 06:56 02:14 04:53
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Not targeting patriotism': Kolkata Police's full statement on lawyer arrest after int'l backlash
Kolkata police on Sunday issued a detailed defence of its decision to arrest 22-year-old law student and influencer Sharmishtha Panoli, who has been accused of stoking communal hatred through a social media video. Facing flak from several quarters over the move, the force insisted that Panoli's arrest had nothing to do with her patriotism or anti-Pakistan stance, but stemmed from the use of abusive and divisive language that, it said, crossed legal boundaries. Show more Show less
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
BCI Chairman comes in support of Sharmishtha Panoli, seeks her release immediately
New Delhi [India], June 1 (ANI): Manan Kumar Mishra, Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India, has strongly condemned the arrest of law student Sharmishtha Panoli. He through a statement issued stated that, her detention over a now-deleted social media video--despite her immediate apology--has sparked outrage, with Mishra denouncing it as a grave miscarriage of justice and a direct attack on freedom of expression. Mishra asserted that the Bengal government and Kolkata Police have repeatedly demonstrated selective enforcement of the law, targeting individuals from specific communities while overlooking more serious offences committed by others. He pointed to historical injustices in West Bengal, such as the Marichjhanpi massacre, Nandigram violence, and politically motivated killings, as evidence of systemic failures in the state's justice system. Recent incidents, including the Murshidabad riots, further exemplify what he termed 'appeasement politics,' where the state shields perpetrators of violence against certain groups while swiftly punishing those who express dissent. He also criticised the government's opposition to Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror initiative, questioning its priorities in safeguarding innocent lives. Mishra stressed that Sharmishtha's case highlights the continued persecution of individuals based on selective outrage and political bias, stating that a mere misstep in the choice of words does not warrant such severe legal action. Calling for immediate intervention, Mishra urged the West Bengal government and police to uphold the principles of democracy by ensuring equal protection under the law. He demanded Sharmishtha Panoli's swift release, a fair trial, and an end to the double standards that have long plagued the state's judicial system. Law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli was taken into custody by Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Friday night after facing intense backlash over a video she shared earlier this month. The now-deleted footage allegedly featured communally sensitive language and remarks that sparked outrage online and led to legal proceedings.
