Gurgaon: A 22-year-old law student from Pune, Sharmistha Panoli, was arrested by Kolkata police in Gurgaon on Friday for allegedly making remarks on social media regarding Operation Sindoor.
Panoli, a fourth-year BBA LLB Honours student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, had removed the post and issued an apology on X.
She was presented before a Gurgaon court and is set to be brought to Kolkata on transit remand, authorities confirmed.
According to Harikrishna Pai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Port Division, a complaint was filed, and the investigation is ongoing. “All necessary actions will be taken as per the law,” Pai said.
A case was registered against Panoli at Garden Reach Police Station on May 15, with the FIR citing sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Indian Penal Code, related to promoting enmity between groups and deliberate insults intended to provoke a breach of peace.
Following the FIR, authorities attempted to serve notice, but Panoli and her family reportedly went into hiding. A warrant was subsequently issued for her arrest, leading to her capture in Gurgaon.
In her post on X, Panoli expressed regret, stating, “I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY. Whatever was posted was my personal opinion, and I never intended to hurt anyone. If anyone was offended, I sincerely apologize. I expect cooperation and understanding, and I will be more cautious in my future public posts. Please accept my apologies.”
