Calcutta HC grants bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted interim bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, who was arrested by the Kolkata police for allegedly uploading a video with communal comments.

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The court held that the complaint against her does not disclose any cognisable offence. Panoli, a 22-year-old law student, was arrested from Gurugram in Haryana last week, after an FIR was filed against her at the Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata.

The Bench of Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury ordered that she be enlarged on bail bond and security of Rs 10,000, and directed her to cooperate with the investigation into the case.

The court also directed her not to leave the country without its permission, while holding that the trial court will consider if she applies for its consent to go abroad for education. It further directed the police to provide protection to Panoli, as she complained of receiveing threats following her posts.