Sharmistha Panoli arrest: Calcutta HC grants interim bail to influencer in offensive video case

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to influencer Sharmistha Panoli, arrested for allegedly posting a video on social media with communal comments. The bench directed her to furnish a bail bond of ₹10,000.

The Calcutta High Court had rejected the interim bail plea of the social media influencer on 3 June. Appropriate police protection has to be provided for Panoli, the court said.

FIR against Wajahat Khan Qadri

Earlier on Wednesday, the Kolkata Police registered an FIR against Wajahat Khan Qadri, the man whose complaint led to the arrest of social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, reported PTI.

According to the police, Wajahat Khan Qadri is now absconding. The police accused him of uploading "malicious and inflammatory" content on social media, aimed at hurting the sentiments of a religious community.

"He (Wajahat Khan Qadri) is presently absconding. We have started an investigation into the case," a senior Kolkata Police officer told PTI.

The Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad lodged a complaint against Wajahat Khan Qadri at Kolkata's Garden Reach police station. This is the same police station where Qadri filed the complaint against Sharmishta Panoli.

The latest FIR against Qadri comes in the wake of multiple complaints lodged in various parts of the country, including Mumbai and Assam. In all those complaints, he has been accused of spreading hate speech and making derogatory remarks against religious deities in social media posts.

However, Qadri's family members have defended him, claiming he is "innocent and secular".

About Sharmishta's arrest

Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested by the Kolkata Police from Gurugram in Haryana for allegedly sharing a communal video, which triggered significant outrage online.

In the video, she allegedly criticised Bollywood celebrities for staying silent on “Operation Sindoor.” After intense trolling and threats in the comments, Panoli removed the video and issued a public apology on 15 May.

However, an FIR had already been registered in Kolkata. Police said multiple attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family. She was later arrested, and the Alipore court in Kolkata sent her to 14-day judicial custody.

With agency inputs.