Daijiworld Media Network – Kolkata

Kolkata, May 31: Sharmishtha Panoli, a social media influencer and law student from Pune, was arrested by Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Saturday for allegedly sharing a communal video that went viral and sparked controversy online.

Panoli had posted a video accusing Bollywood actors of remaining silent on Operation Sindoor, a military initiative by India. Her remarks triggered a storm on social media, drawing heavy backlash, trolling, and even threats from users.

Following the uproar, she deleted the video and issued an apology. However, Kolkata Police had already registered a complaint against her and attempted to serve legal notices. Panoli had distanced herself from her family, making it difficult for authorities to trace her.

With notices going unanswered, police approached the court, which issued an arrest warrant. Acting on the warrant, Kolkata Police tracked her to Gurugram and arrested her on Friday night.

“Several attempts were made to serve notices, but she and her family had disappeared. The court then issued an arrest warrant, following which she was arrested,” a police officer told.