Protocols followed in arrest of social media influencer from Gurugram: Police

Kolkata: The Kolkata Police stated on Saturday that all legal procedures were duly followed during the arrest of social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli—accused of uploading a video containing communal remarks—in Gurugram, Haryana, in connection with a case filed at the Garden Reach police station. The clarification came amid social media criticism, where many users labelled Panoli’s arrest as illegal. The woman, a resident of Kolkata’s Anandapur area, enrolled in Pune’s Law University, was arrested in Gurugram on Friday night. She was produced at a court in Kolkata on Saturday which sent her to judicial custody till June 13 after her bail petition was rejected. The accused woman has been booked under relevant sections for promoting enmity between different groups, malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, apart from intentional insult, provoking breach of peace, a Kolkata Police officer said. The accused woman has been booked under relevant sections for promoting enmity between different groups, malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings, apart from intentional insult, provoking breach of peace, a Kolkata Police officer said.

The police claimed that multiple attempts were made to serve a notice to Sharmistha Panoli, but she was found to be absconding. Subsequently, a court issued an arrest warrant, prompting the police to travel to Gurugram. Panoli was arrested, on Friday, by the Kolkata Police and, on an emergency basis, produced before a Magistrate. The court then granted a transit remand, allowing the police to bring her to Kolkata. In this regard on Saturday police wrote on its social media pages: “In reference to Garden Reach Police Station Case No.136 dated 15.05.2025, certain social media narratives suggesting an unlawful arrest of a law student are factually incorrect and misleading. All legal procedures were duly adhered to. All attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding on every occasion. Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurgaon. She was thereafter produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per due process of law. We urge all concerned to refrain from spreading unverified or speculative content and to rely on authentic sources for information.”