The Media Times

Actor and politician Kangana Ranaut has publicly called for the immediate release of Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli, who is currently in custody over a controversial video related to ‘Operation Sindoor’. In her statement, Kangana acknowledged that while Sharmishta’s remarks were “unpleasant,” they do not justify the alleged harsh treatment and legal consequences she is facing. She emphasized that there is no need to “bully or harass” someone over their words, joining a growing chorus of public figures and supporters advocating for Sharmishta’s release .
Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune and social media influencer, was arrested by Kolkata Police in Gurugram, Haryana, for allegedly sharing a communal video related to ‘Operation Sindoor’ that incited widespread backlash. In the Instagram video, she criticized Bollywood celebrities for their silence on the operation, leading to accusations of hate speech and threats from social media users. Despite deleting the video and issuing an unconditional apology on social media, Panoli and her family reportedly went untraceable, prompting a court to issue an arrest warrant. Following her arrest, she was produced before a Gurugram court and brought to Kolkata on transit remand. She now faces multiple charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including promoting enmity between communities, offending religious sentiments, intentional insult to provoke public disorder, and making statements inciting unrest.
The incident has sparked political controversy, with BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari criticizing the arrest and accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of engaging in “appeasement politics” .