Sharmishtha Panoli, a law student who was arrested in May 2025 in connection with a controversial social media post related to Operation Sindoor, on Thursday alleged that the then Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's "appeasement politics" was behind her arrest. Speaking on the first anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Panoli said her comments in support of the Indian Armed Forces were taken out of context and wrongly labelled as religious hate speech.

Background of the Arrest

An FIR was filed against Panoli in Kolkata in May 2025 following a video she posted during the period of Operation Sindoor. She claimed that despite having issued a public apology, the West Bengal Police travelled across five states to arrest her. "It was unwarranted and a sign of appeasement politics," she alleged, further accusing the TMC government of "abuse of power."

What Panoli Said About the Post

Panoli acknowledged that the language she used in the post was problematic, but maintained that her intent was to speak against Pakistan-backed terrorism following the Pahalgam attack — not to hurt any religious community. "I wanted to speak against Pakistan's terrorists. But the matter was taken out of context, and my family and I were harassed," she told IANS. She added that her post was meant as a show of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and the Indian military.

Double Standard Allegation Against TMC

Panoli alleged a double standard in how the West Bengal government handled speech-related cases. "We have seen that Trinamool leaders have been using inappropriate language against Hindu Gods and Goddesses. But that they have covered under freedom of speech," she said. She contrasted this with the state's swift action against her own post, arguing that the government selectively applied the law to serve its political interests. She also accused Chief Minister Banerjee of acting to "please her vote bank."

RG Kar Case Reference

Panoli drew a pointed comparison to the RG Kar Medical College case, questioning the state's priorities. "I was very surprised that the state of West Bengal has so many resources to travel so far just to arrest a law student despite my apology. If the state had so much resources, then why did the government not work in the RG Kar case and punish those indulging in corruption," she said. The RG Kar case had sparked widespread protests across West Bengal and the country over alleged institutional failure.

Political Context and What Comes Next

Panoli expressed satisfaction over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coming to power in West Bengal, saying she was "happy and proud that the people of Bengal stood up for themselves by voting for democracy." Her remarks come amid a broader political reckoning in the state following the assembly election results. The case reflects ongoing tensions in West Bengal over the boundaries of free speech, political accountability, and law enforcement priorities — fault lines that are unlikely to recede in the near term.