Actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan have strongly criticized the West Bengal police for arresting 22-year-old Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli.
Sharmishta, a law student from Maharashtra, was arrested on May 30 in Gurgaon after a complaint was filed against her at the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata. She had posted a video about Operation Sindoor, which led to allegations that she had hurt religious sentiments. She is now in jail in Kolkata and will remain there at least until June 13.
Pawan Kalyan said on social media that while blasphemy (disrespecting religion) should be condemned, the law should apply equally to everyone. He questioned why no action was taken when some TMC politicians allegedly mocked Sanatan Dharma. He pointed out that Sharmishta had deleted the video and apologized, yet was still jailed.
Kangana Ranaut also supported Sharmishta, saying it’s unfair to ruin someone’s life after they’ve apologized. She said, “Putting her in prison, questioning her character, and ending her career is very wrong.”
Sharmishta’s university in Maharashtra has also suspended her and banned her from campus placements.
Kangana warned the Bengal government not to turn the state into “another North Korea” by suppressing voices unfairly.
