BCI Chairman Demands Immediate Release of Sharmishta Panoli, Condemns Arrest as Assault on Free Speech

Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra has strongly condemned the arrest of 22-year-old law student and social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli by Kolkata Police over a now-deleted video related to 'Operation Sindoor'.  

Despite her immediate apology, Panoli was arrested in Gurugram and remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.  Mishra labeled the arrest a "blatant assault on freedom of expression" and accused the West Bengal government of politically motivated actions.  

He demanded her immediate release and a fair trial. The incident has sparked national debate on free speech and alleged selective law enforcement.