Social media influencer Faizan Ansari travelled from Mumbai to meet Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar on Monday to lodge a complaint against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in connection with the arrest of law student Sharmistha Panoli by Kolkata Police from Gurugram.
Ansari told The Free Press Journal, "Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student studying in Pune, was put under arrest by Mamata Banerjee's government. The Calcutta High Court has sent her into judicial custody till June 13, which is completely unacceptable. The entire Muslim community is against Panoli, but I am supporting her. If she has said anything against Prophet Mohammad, Prophet Mohammad will punish her. Who is Mamata Banerjee to punish her? Even if the entire Muslim community boycotts me, I will still support Panoli."
Watch Video:
"Mamata Banerjee has only done this to increase her votes within the Muslim community. The Pune CP has assured me that immediate action will be taken. I requested that Mamata Banerjee be brought from Kolkata to Pune and placed under arrest, just like the 22-year-old girl was," he added.
The Kolkata Police had arrested Panoli for allegedly uploading a video on Operation Sindoor with communal comments. A case against her was lodged at the Garden Reach Police Station on May 15, based on allegations that she posted a video that "was insulting to the religious belief of a class of citizens of India and amounted to promoting disharmony and hatred between different communities."
Later, she deleted the video and also tendered a public apology in the matter. "I do hereby tender my UNCONDITIONAL APOLOGY. Whatever was put are my personal feelings and I never intentionally wanted to hurt anybody, so if anybody is hurt, I’m sorry for the same. I expect cooperation and understanding. Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public posts. Again, please accept my apologies," she wrote on X (formerly Twitter). However, she was arrested and has been placed in judicial custody.
Meanwhile, Kolkata Police have dismissed criticisms that they have "unlawfully" arrested Panoli, claiming that all legal procedures were followed. "Kolkata Police acted lawfully according to the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief; legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities," Kolkata Police posted on Facebook. "The case was duly investigated, and adhering to legal procedures, several attempts were made to serve notice u/s 35 of BNSS to the accused, but every time she was found absconding," it added. "Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurugram during daytime. She was thereafter produced before the appropriate Magistrate and was granted transit remand as per due process of law. Later, the court sent her to judicial custody," it said.
