Andhra Pradesh Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan condemned the arrest of social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli. The influencer was arrested from Gurugram by the West Bengal police over her communal post. Kalyan invoked West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s remarks and said that “secularism must be a two-way street”.
Pawan Kalyan posted on X, ” During Operation Sindoor, Sharmistha, a law student, spoke out, her words regrettable and hurtful to some. She owned her mistake, deleted the video and apologized. The WB Police swiftly acted, taking action against Sharmistha.
But what about the deep, searing pain inflicted upon millions when elected leaders, MPs of TMC, mock Sanatana Dharma? Where is the outrage when our faith is called ‘Gandha Dharm’? Where is their apology? Where is their swift arrest?
Blasphemy must be condemned, always! Secularism isn’t a shield for some and a sword for others. It must be a two-way street. West Bengal Police, the nation is watching. Act justly for all.”
However, Panoli had deleted the video and issued an apology on May 15. Speaking to ANI, influencer Sharmishta Panoli’s advocate, Md Samimuddin stated that they have moved her bail application before the court.
Sharmishta has been remanded to judicial custody
“We moved our bail application before the court, citing that the articles that have been allegedly stated by the prosecution to have been used, the mobile phone and the laptop, have already been seized. Subsequently, the court heard our prayer. The police custody prayer was sought by the prosecution, which was turned down and rejected. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody till 13th of June, 2025…” Sharmishta’s advocate said.
‘Action is taken only against Sanatanis’
West Bengal Assembly LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the arrest of social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli, alleging that action is taken only against “Sanatanis.”
Sharmistha Panoli is a law student at Symbiosis International University in Pune. The university has already distanced itself from her comment and stated that her remarks did not reflect the institution’s value.
