BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra strongly criticised the arrest of law student Sharmishta Panoli, calling it a “blatant assault on freedom of expression” and a dangerous trend that threatens democratic values and constitutional rights.
Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and influencer from Pune, was arrested for a controversial video on Operation Sindoor that sparked public outrage and led to her being placed in judicial custody until June 13. Despite apologizing and deleting the video, criticism and legal actions followed her arrest, raising political concerns about misuse of police powers.
Influencer Sharmishta Panoli was remanded to 14 days in custody by a Kolkata court after posting a video on Instagram that allegedly offended a minority community. Arrested in Gurugram, she faced backlash and threats, prompting legal action. Despite an apology and claims of personal feelings, legal notices were unsuccessfully delivered prior to her arrest.