Calcutta HC Orders WB Govt to Produce Case Diary in Sharmistha Panoli Arrest Case
Interim bail hearing scheduled for June 5; investigation to focus on Garden Reach police case
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 3rd June: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday ordered the West Bengal government to produce the case diary related to the arrest of law student Sharmistha Panoli, with her interim bail plea scheduled to be heard again on June 5. The vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Mukherjee directed that the investigation will focus on the case registered at Garden Reach police station, while all other FIRs linked to the matter will remain stayed until further orders.
The court further instructed the state government to ensure that no new cases are registered against Panoli in connection with the allegations. The case diary must be produced on the next hearing date.
Justice Mukherjee cautioned about exercising restraint in making public comments in a diverse country like India.
Panoli’s lawyer argued that no offence was made out against her in the complaint, which arose from alleged remarks on social media during Operation Sindoor—a retaliatory action by India following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The lawyer explained that a social media war of words occurred between users from India and Pakistan during this time.
The complaint filed at Garden Reach police station accused Panoli of hurting the religious sentiments of the Muslim community and causing public disharmony. Her counsel sought quashing of the FIR and bail, contending that Panoli was never served a notice to appear for police questioning, and the complaint did not specify the exact nature of her comments or disclose a cognisable offence.
The complaint was lodged on May 15, and a police arrest warrant was issued two days later. Panoli’s family also reported to the police that she was under threat. The allegedly offensive social media post was reportedly removed on May 8, having been posted on the night of May 7.
Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram and remanded to judicial custody by a Kolkata court until June 13. Her lawyer stated that at least four FIRs were filed against her in different police stations across the state.
Senior Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, representing the state, argued that the complaint involves a cognisable offence and alleged that the post included an offensive video along with text. He informed the court that the lower court magistrate had rejected Panoli’s bail petition before remanding her to judicial custody.
