(Image source from: Ndtv.com)

On Thursday, Sharmistha Panoli, a law student and social media influencer, received interim bail from the Calcutta High Court related to a case stemming from a contentious social media post. The case, which was filed at the Garden Reach Police Station, resulted in her arrest by Kolkata Police on May 30 while she was in Gurugram, Haryana. Following her arrest, she was transported to Kolkata under a transit remand and held in judicial custody until June 13. Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury stated that the complaint against her did not articulate any cognizable offense and subsequently granted her bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. He remarked that the arrest warrant had been issued "mechanically" and expressed that there was no justification for detaining her for questioning, emphasizing that "The accused is a law student, and there is no necessity for custody."

Furthermore, the high court instructed the police to ensure Panoli's safety, in light of her claims of receiving threats after her controversial post. As part of her bail conditions, she is to assist with the ongoing investigation and is prohibited from leaving the country without prior court approval. Following her release, Sharmistha's father, Prithviraj Panoli, commented to News18, “We must prioritize her safety and her future. I am relieved that she has secured bail. My daughter was not on the run; she is a bright individual, and I believe she will excel.” The 22-year-old faced allegations of offending religious sentiments and inciting discord with her social media video, which has since been removed. Kolkata Police justified her arrest by claiming that her video featured disrespectful and derogatory remarks about a minority community. The incident triggered widespread backlash on social media and ignited a political controversy, with numerous leaders denouncing the arrest and criticizing the West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee.