BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Demands Immediate Release Over Social Media Controversy
Trending Today Supreme Court Rules Compensation Cannot Replace Jail Time in Serious Crimes Under CrPC Section 357 BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Demands Immediate Release Over Social Media Controversy Supreme Court Petitioned After Alleged Police Assault on Journalists Reporting on Madhya Pradesh Sand Mafia Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Assam’s Deportation Policy on Bangladeshi Infiltration Supreme Court Orders Medical Care for Disabled Rape Survivor Under Victim Compensation Scheme LEGAL JOB OPPORTUNITY AT OFFICE OF NUNIWAL LAW CHAMBERS Supreme Court Emphasizes Judicial Hierarchy: Contempt Case Against NCDRC Members in Ireo Grace Realtech vs Sanjay Gopinath (2024) Supreme Court Judgment on ED’s Arrest Powers Under PMLA: No Arrest After Special Court Cognizance | Tarsem Lal Case Analysis 2024 Supreme Court Quashes Bihar’s SC List Amendment: Tanti-Tantwa Merger Declared Unconstitutional Supreme Court Strikes Down Arbitrary Bail Conditions Violating Privacy in Frank Vitus v. NCB (2024) BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Demands Immediate Release Over Social Media Controversy PRABHAT KUMAR BILTORIA 04 June 2025 Bar Council of India Chairman and BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra strongly criticized the arrest of law student Sharmishta Panoli by Kolkata Police for a social media post. He demanded her immediate release, citing a serious violation of free speech and judicial fairness. BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Urges Immediate Release In a powerful statement released on June 2, 2025, Manan Kumar Mishra, senior advocate and chairperson of the Bar Council of India (BCI), as well as a BJP Rajya Sabha MP, strongly opposed the arrest of 19-year-old law student and Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli by the Kolkata Police. Allegations Over Religious Sensitivities Panoli was detained over a social media video that allegedly hurt religious sentiments in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Despite her public apology and deletion of the post, she was arrested in Gurugram and transported to Kolkata under transit custody. On May 31, she was remanded to 14 days of judicial imprisonment by a local court in the Alipore neighborhood. Freedom of Speech Must Be Respected Mishra called the arrest a blatant misuse of power and a serious attack on the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. He stated, “Word choice alone does not constitute blasphemous behavior. It’s unacceptable for a young student to become a scapegoat while politically aligned individuals avoid accountability.” Call for Legal and Judicial Fairness Condemning what he described as the “selective anger” and “politically motivated” action by the West Bengal government, Mishra urged authorities to ensure fairness, impartiality, and rule of law. “A fair trial and immediate release are necessary to restore faith in our judicial process,” he added. Selective Targeting Raises Questions The BCI Chairman highlighted the broader concern of selective targeting of certain communities by the authorities while ignoring more serious infractions by others. Mishra reiterated his support for Sharmishta Panoli, pointing to her swift apology and the disproportionate response she received in return. Conclusion: Upholding Democratic Principles This incident raises serious concerns about the balance between law enforcement and democratic freedoms. As calls grow louder for Sharmishta Panoli’s release, the case underscores the urgent need to protect freedom of expression, ensure judicial transparency, and prevent the misuse of state machinery for political vendettas. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply Logged in as Sada Law. Edit your profile. Log out? Required fields are marked * Message* Live Cases BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Demands Immediate Release Over Social Media Controversy BCI Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra Condemns Arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, Demands Immediate Release Over Social Media Controversy Sada Law • June 4, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments Supreme Court Petitioned After Alleged Police Assault on Journalists Reporting on Madhya Pradesh Sand Mafia Supreme Court Petitioned After Alleged Police Assault on Journalists Reporting on Madhya Pradesh Sand Mafia Sada Law • June 4, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Assam’s Deportation Policy on Bangladeshi Infiltration Supreme Court Rejects Plea Against Assam’s Deportation Policy on Bangladeshi Infiltration Sada Law • June 4, 2025 • Live cases • No Comments 1 2 3 … 5 Next »