A law student from Pune, identified as Sharmistha Panoli, was arrested in Gurugram on Friday night by Kolkata Police for allegedly posting a "derogatory" social media post regarding Operation Sindoor. The arrest followed a complaint filed in Kolkata after the video went viral and triggered widespread outrage.

The controversy began after Panoli uploaded a video on Instagram that allegedly contained "disrespectful and derogatory remarks" targeting a particular religion, in response to posts about Operation Sindoor, a recent national campaign with religious undertones. Although the video was later deleted, it had already been widely circulated, leading to strong reactions online.

According to police sources, the authorities made multiple attempts to serve a legal notice to Panoli, but she and her family were reportedly untraceable, leading to suspicions that they had absconded. Following this, a local court issued an arrest warrant, which was subsequently executed in Gurugram.

Following her arrest, Panoli issued a public apology on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, stating, "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 co-operation and understanding. Henceforth, I will be cautious in my public post. Again, please accept my apologies.”

Operation Sindoor itself has been a subject of political debate. Launched on May 7, 2025, it involved the decimation of terror bases in Pakistan by the Indian Air Force's precision strikes. However, the operation has also drawn criticism, with some political figures questioning its diplomatic fallout and others raising concerns about its potential commercialization. For instance, the announcement of a film based on Operation Sindoor earlier in May sparked backlash, prompting the director to issue an apology.

The incident involving Sharmistha Panoli has reignited debates around freedom of expression, hate speech laws, and the responsibility of social media users when expressing views on sensitive topics. It also highlights the complexities of navigating online discourse in an increasingly polarized environment, where opinions can quickly escalate into legal and social repercussions.

This isn't the first instance of social media posts related to Operation Sindoor causing controversy. Earlier in May, an Ashoka University professor was arrested for his remarks on social media about the operation, which the Haryana State Commission for Women deemed as undermining women officers in the Indian armed forces and fomenting communal discord. These incidents underscore the sensitivity surrounding discussions of national security and military operations on public platforms.