Sharmishta Panoli Arrest: Kolkata Police Break Silence, Say 'Action Taken For Sharing Offensive Content'

Kolkata police said that the law student for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities.

Amid backlash over the arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, the Kolkata Police on Sunday stated that some social media accounts are spreading false information about the unlawful arrest of the law student. The police called the narrative "mischievous and misleading."

In a post on X, police expressed that the law student was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief, but legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities. 

"Kolkata Police acted lawfully according to the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief; legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities," the post read.

"Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation stands for. Kolkata Police being no different, stands firmly with the citizens of India," it added.

Some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has unlawfully arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan. This narrative is mischievous and misleading.

Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation…

— Kolkata Police (@KolkataPolice) June 1, 2025

In a statement, police said that the video posted by Sharmishta was insulting to the religious belief of a class of citisens of India and amounted to promoting hatred between different communities. 

Kolkata police urged people to act responsibly and refrain from doing anything that would benefit enemies.

On Saturday. a court in Kolkata remanded social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, in judicial custody for 14 days.

Kolkata Police has arrested Panoli from Gurugram, Haryana on Friday night.