‘blatant Misuse Of...’: Karti P Chidambaram Slams Arrest Of Influencer Over Post On Operation Sindoor

Karti P Chidambaram has denounced nan apprehension of rule student and Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli, calling it a "blatant misuse of constabulary powers." The Congress MP raised concerns complete nan increasing inclination of interstate arrests for societal media posts, stating specified actions are unjustifiable unless they intelligibly trigger a rule and bid situation.

In a station connected X (formally Twitter), Karti wrote, “These interstate arrests for societal media posts (unless it’s intelligibly demonstrated that it has led to a rule & bid situation) is blatantly a misuse of constabulary powers.” 

Sharmishta Panoli was arrested by nan Kolkata Police from Gurugram, Haryana, connected nan nighttime of May 30. The action followed a viral video successful which she reportedly criticised Bollywood actors for remaining silent connected Operation Sindoor. The video, posted connected her Instagram, attracted terrible backlash, pinch users posting trolling comments and sending her threatening messages.

Panoli later deleted nan video and issued an apology, but by then, nan Kolkata Police had already registered a complaint. Legal notices were subsequently issued to her and her family, though constabulary sources told PTI that Panoli had distanced herself from her family.

She was brought to Kolkata connected transit remand and presented earlier nan Alipore Chief Judicial Magistrate Court connected May 31. The tribunal denied nan petition for constabulary custody and remanded her to judicial custody until June 13.

As she was being taken away, Panoli remarked, “The harassment you person done being successful a democracy, this is not what populist is.”

Her advocate, Md Samimuddin, confirmed that a bail exertion was submitted. “We moved our bail exertion earlier nan court, citing that nan articles that person been allegedly stated by nan prosecution to person been used, nan mobile telephone and nan laptop, person already been seized. Subsequently, nan tribunal heard our prayer. The constabulary custody dream was sought by nan prosecution, which was turned down and rejected. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody till 13th of June, 2025...,” Samimuddin stated.

Published on: May 31, 2025 9:51 PM IST