KOLKATA, June 5: The Calcutta High Court has granted interim bail to social media influencer and law student Sharmishta Panoli, who was arrested over an allegedly communal video she had posted online.
The court directed Panoli to furnish a bail bond of ₹10,000, offering her temporary relief in a case that has stirred intense debate over freedom of expression and communal sensitivity.
Panoli, arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram, had already deleted the controversial video and issued a public apology. Yet, her arrest drew sharp reactions from several quarters, triggering a political slugfest and raising questions about selective enforcement and free speech.
She was earlier remanded to judicial custody till June 13 by a lower court in Kolkata.
Her lawyer told the court that at least four FIRs had been registered against her at different police stations across West Bengal, complicating the legal proceedings.
Public figures and legal experts have weighed in on the matter, with some condemning the content of the video, while others defended her right to expression and questioned the scale of police action.
The case continues to draw national attention as the intersection of law, speech, and digital influence remains under scrutiny.
