On June 5, 2025, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to 22-year-old social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, arrested for allegedly posting a video that hurt religious sentiments. The court directed her to furnish a bail bond of ₹10,000.

Panoli was arrested on May 30 by Kolkata Police from Gurugram, Haryana, following a now-deleted Instagram video where she criticized Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor, India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. The video sparked backlash, leading to her arrest under charges of promoting enmity between groups and outraging religious feelings. 

Earlier, on June 3, the High Court had denied her bail, emphasizing that freedom of speech does not permit hurting others' sentiments.

Panoli's arrest ignited political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party accusing the Kolkata Police of selective enforcement and acting hastily. The Bar Council of India's chairman also criticized the arrest as a failure of justice and an assault on free expression.