Calcutta High Court grants interim bail to influencer Sharmishta Panoli amid controversy

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to Sharmishta Panoli, a social influencer and fourth year law graduate, who was arrested by Kolkata Police from Gurugram on charges of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community.

The High Court’s Single Bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury granted the interim bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. The high court observed that Panoli must cooperate with the ongoing investigation and should not leave the country without the court’s permission.

The court said she will have to deposit her passport and cannot travel abroad without permission of the court.


Panoli, a law student, had allegedly posted offensive content on Instagram and X. After, receiving backlash, deleted the offensive content and published an apology on the social media platform 'X'. An FIR was registered against her on May 15, 2025.

In her plea, Panoli also challenged the remand order of the trial Court, which had remanded her to 14 days in judicial custody. Justice Chowdhury stated that the there was no need for custodial interrogation.

The Calcutta High Court today directed Kolkata police to provide protection to Panoli, who had complained of receiving threats following her social media post. An FIR was registered against Panoli at Garden Reach Police Station on May 15 and warrants were issued just two days later on May 17.
On May 31, the trial court in Kolkata remanded her to judicial custody till June 13. On Tuesday, another bench of High Court had denied bail to Panoli.

Advocate of Panoli said mediapersons, “The court has asked to submit her passport . She will have to inform the police, if she leaves abroad. She has been asked to submit bail bonds worth Rs 10,000. Security has been provided to her due to threat. Interim bail has been granted. She will have to appear, whenever police summon.”

Prithviraj Panoli, Sharmistha’s father, said, “I am happy that she got bail. My daughter was not absconding. We have visited cyber section of Kolkata Police several times. She had deleted and tendered apology on social media.”

Her father, “As any father, I am concerned about her security. I cannot explain the fear and mob lynching online. My daughter received death threats—'Sar se tan juda’-messages were continuously pouring every moment. It was a scary situation. We are thankful to the HC that offered security to her..”

“She has already learnt a lesson. We are a proud Hindu and lot of Hindu association have supported us. A lot of officers of Kolkata Police have helped us,” Panoli’s father added.

Advocate General Kishore Dutta fought the case on behalf of the state government.
Asked about Panoli’s interim bail, Kolkata Commissioner of Police Manoj Verma refused to comment on the issue

The High Court also directed the Kolkata Police to ensure full protection for her considering the threats received by her.