Latest news with #SharmisthaPanoli
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
4 hours ago
- General
- Business Standard
Calcutta HC refuses bail to Panoli for controversial remarks amid tensions
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who is accused of making controversial remarks against a community in the context of Operation Sindoor—coordinated missile strikes conducted by the Indian armed forces. According to a LiveLaw report, Panoli challenged a remand order issued by a trial court, which had placed her in judicial custody for 14 days. Court stresses caution in diverse society While denying bail, the court listed the matter before the next vacation bench and stated, 'This video was made on social media, it was heard, this incident has led to a section of people's sentiment being hurt. Look, we have freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with people from different castes, creeds, religions, etc. We must be cautious by saying this. So, day after tomorrow. Heavens will not fall.' Panoli faces legal action for blasphemous content Panoli, a law student at Symbiosis Law School, allegedly made blasphemous remarks against Prophet Mohammad on her social media accounts. After facing backlash for the offensive video, she deleted it and issued a public apology. Despite this, she was arrested in Gurugram by Kolkata Police. Defence argues arrest violated due process under BNSS Her counsel argued that the arrest was illegal, stating the offences listed in the FIR were non-cognisable. The counsel also contended that Panoli had not been served a notice prior to arrest, which is required under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The state counsel responded that a notice had been issued but could not be served because Panoli had fled with her family. Next hearing set for June 5; case diary requested The High Court directed the West Bengal government to produce the case diary related to Panoli's arrest at the next hearing, scheduled for 5 June. Operation Sindoor: military response to Pahalgam attack On 7 May, the Indian armed forces launched coordinated missile strikes on terrorist infrastructure at nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The strikes were in retaliation for the 22 April terror attack in Pahalgam.
New Indian Express
5 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
‘Free speech doesn't mean hurting sentiments': Calcutta HC denies interim bail to influencer Sharmistha Panoli
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday denied interim bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who was arrested on May 30 for allegedly hurting religious sentiments in a video related to Operation Sindoor. The court also directed the West Bengal government to produce the case diary in connection with Panoli's arrest on June 5, when her interim bail prayer will be heard again. The vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Mukherjee directed that the Garden Reach police station case in connection with which Panoli was arrested will be investigated, while proceedings in all other FIRs in this regard will remain stayed till further orders. Justice Mukherjee observed that one must be careful in making comments in public in a diverse country like India. "The sentiments of a section of the people of our country have been hurt. We have freedom of speech but that does not mean you hurt sentiments of others. Our country is full of diversity. our Country is diverse, with all persons from different caste, creed, religion, etc... We must be cautious by saying this," the judge remarked. The also court said that the state will ensure that no further case will be registered on the alleged action of Panoli. Petitioner Panoli's lawyer claimed that no offence is made out in the complaint filed against her for allegedly making some remarks on social media during the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. He claimed that there was a war of words on social media between users across India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was undertaken by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 men, most of whom were tourists. It was stated that the complaint before the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata claimed that Panoli's comments on social media hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and caused disharmony among people. He prayed for quashing of the FIR against Panoli and sought grant of bail to her, claiming that no notice was served to her for appearing before the police for investigation into the complaint. Panoli's lawyer, stating that the complaint does not specify what had been said in her social media comments, claimed that it does not disclose any cognisable offence. He stated that the complaint was filed on May 15 and two days later, a warrant of arrest was obtained by the police. He submitted before the court that Panoli's family had also complained to the police that she was under threat and that the alleged offensive post had been taken off from the social media on May 8 after having posted it on May 7 night. The law student was arrested by the Kolkata Police from Gurugram, and was remanded to judicial custody by a Kolkata court till June 13. It was claimed by her lawyer that at least four FIRs were filed in different police stations in the state. Appearing for the state, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee submitted that the complaint contains cognisable offence and that the alleged post contained an offensive video apart from text. He stated that Panoli's bail petition was rejected by the magistrate of the lower court and was remanded to judicial custody. (With additional inputs from PTI)
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- General
- The Hindu
Calcutta HC directs state to produce case diary in Panoli arrest, posts bail prayer hearing on June 5
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal government to produce the case diary in connection with the arrest of law student Sharmistha Panoli on June 5, when her interim bail prayer will be heard again. The vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Mukherjee directed that the Garden Reach police station case in connection with which Ms. Panoli was arrested will be investigated, while proceedings in all other FIRs in this regard will remain stayed till further orders. The court said that the State will ensure that no further case will be registered on the alleged action of Ms. Panoli. The court directed the State to produce the case diary on the next date of hearing on June 5. Justice Mukherjee observed that one must be careful in making comments in public in a diverse country like India. Petitioner Panoli's lawyer claimed that no offence is made out in the complaint filed against her for allegedly making some remarks on social media during the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. He claimed that there was a war of words on social media between users across India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was undertaken by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 men, most of whom were tourists. It was stated that the complaint before the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata claimed that Ms. Panoli's comments on social media hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and caused disharmony among people. He prayed for quashing of the FIR against Panoli and sought grant of bail to her, claiming that no notice was served to her for appearing before the police for investigation into the complaint. Ms. Panoli's lawyer, stating that the complaint does not specify what had been said in her social media comments, claimed that it does not disclose any cognisable offence. He stated that the complaint was filed on May 15 and two days later, a warrant of arrest was obtained by the police. He submitted before the court that Ms. Panoli's family had also complained to the police that she was under threat and that the alleged offensive post had been taken off from the social media on May 8 after having posted it on May 7 night. The law student was arrested by the Kolkata Police from Gurugram, and was remanded to judicial custody by a Kolkata court till June 13. It was claimed by her lawyer that at least four FIRs were filed in different police stations in the state. Appearing for the state, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee submitted that the complaint contains cognisable offence and that the alleged post contained an offensive video apart from text. He stated that Ms. Panoli's bail petition was rejected by the magistrate of the lower court and was remanded to judicial custody.
Mint
6 hours ago
- General
- Mint
Sharmistha Panoli row: Calcutta HC denies interim bail; says ‘freedom of speech does not mean you will hurt people'
Sharmistha Panoli row: The Calcutta high court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to Instagram content creator Sharmistha Panoli, and observed that freedom of speech does not give a person the 'will to go on to hurt others'. Instagram influencer, and a law student — Sharmistha Panoli — found herself at the centre of controversy for allegedly making controversial statements in now-deleted videos against a community in the wake of Operation Sindoor. She was arrested by the Kolkata Police last week, after an FIR was filed against her. Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, who presiding over the matter, while denying ad-interim bail, said," Look, we have freedom of speech, but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others," reported Live Law. The judge further noted: 'Our country is diverse, with people from different castes, creeds, and religions. We must be cautious by saying this. So, day after tomorrow. Heavens will not fall.' Panoli was arrested for allegedly making controversial remarks criticising Bollywood celebrities for their 'silence' on 'Operation Sindoor." Her now deleted video had 'derogatory and disrespectful" comments aimed at a particular religious community, police said. After the video went viral, #ArrestSharmishta also started trending on X. Social media users flooded the comments section of Sharmistha's Instagram post prompting her to delete the video and issue a public apology. Following her arrest, Panoli was produced before Alipore Court in Kolkata on Saturday, which remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days. During the case hearing, Sharmistha Panoli's lawyer argued that her arrest was unlawful because the charges mentioned in the FIR were non-cognisable, and she wasn't given any prior notice—which would have been mandatory under the new BNSS laws. Earlier, her lawyer, Md Samimuddin, also said that Panoli's health was getting worse due to poor hygiene and lack of medical care at the Alipore Women's Correctional Home. As per police sources, the FIR against Panoli was lodged under sections 196(1) (a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 ( intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the BNSS , reported HT.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- General
- NDTV
Produce Case Dairy: High Court To Bengal Government On Influencer's Arrest
Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal government to produce the case diary in connection with the arrest of law student Sharmistha Panoli on June 5, when her interim bail prayer will be heard again. The vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Mukherjee directed that the Garden Reach police station case in connection with which Panoli was arrested will be investigated, while proceedings in all other FIRs in this regard will remain stayed till further orders. The court said that the state will ensure that no further case will be registered on the alleged action of Panoli. The court directed the state to produce the case diary on the next date of hearing on June 5. Justice Mukherjee observed that one must be careful in making comments in public in a diverse country like India. Petitioner Panoli's lawyer claimed that no offence is made out in the complaint filed against her for allegedly making some remarks on social media during the Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. He claimed that there was a war of words on social media between users across India and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was undertaken by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 men, most of whom were tourists. It was stated that the complaint before the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata claimed that Panoli's comments on social media hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and caused disharmony among people. He prayed for quashing of the FIR against Panoli and sought grant of bail to her, claiming that no notice was served to her for appearing before the police for investigation into the complaint. Panoli's lawyer, stating that the complaint does not specify what had been said in her social media comments, claimed that it does not disclose any cognisable offence. He stated that the complaint was filed on May 15 and two days later, a warrant of arrest was obtained by the police. He submitted before the court that Panoli's family had also complained to the police that she was under threat and that the alleged offensive post had been taken off from the social media on May 8 after having posted it on May 7 night. The law student was arrested by the Kolkata Police from Gurugram, and was remanded to judicial custody by a Kolkata court till June 13. It was claimed by her lawyer that at least four FIRs were filed in different police stations in the state. Appearing for the state, senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee submitted that the complaint contains cognisable offence and that the alleged post contained an offensive video apart from text. He stated that Panoli's bail petition was rejected by the magistrate of the lower court and was remanded to judicial custody.
