Sharmishta Panoli, the 22-year-old law student and social media content creator arrested for allegedly posting communal posts, on Monday filed a petition in Alipore court here, seeking “adequate protection” and claimed that she was receiving “multiple threats from other inmates inside the jail, causing her to fear for her safety and well-being”.
She has also alleged that she was being denied basic amenities in the jail.
Panoli was arrested by the Kolkata Police from Gurgaon in Haryana on Friday and sent to judicial custody till June 13.
In her plea, Panoli said that she is suffering from medical ailments and requires regular access to clean drinking water, hygienic sanitation, and proper medical attention.
“No proper hygiene is maintained inside the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home. My client is being denied basic amenities. She has kidney-related issues and has not been feeling well. We have submitted a petition and the court has sought a report by June 4,” her lawyer Mohammed Samimuddin was quoted as saying by PTI.
Meanwhile, Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said a notice has been issued to the West Bengal DGP, directing him to ensure Panoli’s safety. “A notice has been issued to the DGP of West Bengal under Section 12 of the PHR Act, 1993, directing him to ensure the safety of the arrested law student and submit a report to the Commission, including his response on the procedures of arrest,” Kanoongo posted on X.
Meanwhile, a Hindu outfit in a letter to Jail Superintendent of Alipore Women’s Correctional Home cited threat to the 22-year-old’s life and demanded security arrangements for her.
“Sharmishta Panoli’s life is under threat as prior to her arrest, she has been receiving rape and death threats by radicalised religious groups… Necessary steps should be taken to ensure her well being,” Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad stated in the letter.
In Delhi, the BJP on Monday upped the ante against the TMC government in West Bengal over the arrest of influencer Panoli, calling the action “state-sponsored repression” and “violation” of her right to freedom of speech and expression.
BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia also took on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue, calling her “ruthless”.
Bar Council of India chairman Manan Kumar Mishra has also called for immediate release and fair trial for Panoli. The senior advocate and Rajya Sabha member said that he was standing firmly with Panoli, whose arrest and judicial custody for a now-deleted social media video despite her immediate apology represented “an absolute failure of justice and a blatant assault on freedom of expression”.
On Monday, the Bar Council of Delhi condemned the influencer’s arrest and demanded her “immediate release to uphold the scale of justice”.
The Kolkata Police has dismissed criticisms that they have “unlawfully” arrested the Instagram influencer and claimed that all legal procedures were followed. Police have defended Panoli’s arrest, saying the case was “duly investigated and adhered to legal procedures”.
“Hate speech and abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech & expression as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution,” the Kolkata Police added.
Complaint filed against Panoli’s complainant
A police complaint has been filed against Wazahat Khan, the complainant in the Sharmishta Panoli case, in Kolkata, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments through his tweets. Khan’s X account is reportedly locked. The complaint against Khan was filed by one Prasun Maitra, who claims to be the president of an NGO called Atmadeep. “I have sent a complaint to the Kolkata Police to lodge an FIR against Wazahat Khan. He made derogatory comments about Hindu Goddesses and Hindu culture. In the eyes of the law, everyone is the same. So, action should be taken against Wazahat Khan,” Maitra said.
Kolkata Police’s Cyber Cell has asked Maitra to lodge his complaint with the designated cyber unit. DC (Port) Harikrishna Pai said, “FIRs are lodged in other units. So, we are seeking legal options.”