Md Samimuddin, the advocate of Instagram influencer Sharmishta Panoli, has stated that she is unwell and that proper hygiene is not being maintained at the Alipore Women’s Correctional Home. Sharmishta was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly posting a video containing communal remarks related to Operation Sindoor.
Sharmishta has filed a petition before the court, seeking access to her basic rights, and has stated that she is suffering from kidney stones. She also claimed that she has not been provided with basic amenities, such as access to newspapers and magazines, in the correctional home.
“At Alipore Women’s Correctional Home, proper hygiene is not being maintained around her, and she is unwell. She has kidney stones. She is not being given access to newspapers and magazines. Today, we have filed a petition in court so that she gets access to her basic rights… Sharmishta is innocent. We are trying our best to secure bail,” Sharmishta’s advocate, Md Samimuddin, told news agency ANI.
He added that they are attempting to secure her release before June 13 and will decide on the future course of action in the coming days.
Sharmishta was arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly uploading a video containing communal comments, in which she claimed that Bollywood actors had remained silent on Operation Sindoor.
Rejecting claims that Sharmishta was arrested “unlawfully”, Kolkata Police stated that due procedures were followed.
In a social media post, Kolkata Police said, “Kolkata Police acted lawfully in accordance with the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal beliefs; legal action was taken for sharing offensive content that promotes hatred among communities.”
“The case was duly investigated, and adhering to legal procedures, several attempts were made to serve a notice under Section 35 of the BNSS to the accused. However, each time, she was found to be absconding,” the police added.
Kolkata Police further stated, “Consequently, an arrest warrant was issued by the competent court, following which she was lawfully apprehended from Gurgaon during the daytime. She was then produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per due legal process. Later, the court remanded her to judicial custody.”
