Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday denied ad-interim bail to 22-year-old law student Sharmistha Panoli, who was recently arrested by Kolkata Police on charges of hurting religious sentiments and promoting communal disharmony through a social media post. The matter was heard by the vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee, who rejected the plea and sought submission of the case diary before the next hearing scheduled for June 5.
Panoli was taken into custody after an FIR was lodged against her at the Garden Reach Police Station on May 15. The complaint related to a video she posted on Instagram in which she commented on ‘Operation Sindoor,’ reportedly offending the religious sentiments of a particular community. Facing backlash, she deleted the video and issued a public apology. However, police proceeded with legal action, initially issuing a notice, which could not be served as Panoli had reportedly gone into hiding in Gurugram.
Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued, and Panoli was apprehended by a team from Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Saturday morning. She was transported to Kolkata on the same day under transit remand and was remanded to judicial custody until June 13 by a lower court.
During the High Court hearing, Justice Chatterjee remarked that while freedom of speech is guaranteed, it does not extend to statements that hurt the sentiments of others. “We have freedom of speech, but that doesn’t mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with all people. We must be cautious,” he observed.
The bench also instructed the state government to ensure that police refrain from pursuing any additional complaints filed against Panoli in other police stations related to the same issue. Furthermore, it directed that no new FIRs should be registered in connection with the same matter.
The case diary is to be presented before the court on the next date of hearing.
With IANS inputs