: Many users have condemned the remarks as "inciting" and "hurtful to religious sentiments," supporting the police action as a necessary step to maintain social harmony.
Following numerous complaints from the public and a specific community at the , the Kolkata Police initiated a formal investigation.
The "Joyita Banani" or Sharmistha Panoli controversy has created a significant rift in online discourse: : Many users have condemned the remarks as
: On the other side, some social media users and political figures have claimed the arrest was "politically motivated" and "unlawful". They argue that the influencer's age and her public apology should have been considered.
The search for a "Joyita Banani" viral video in Kolkata does not return a direct match for a specific individual by that exact name. However, the keywords strongly align with a major ongoing controversy in Kolkata involving , a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer, whose viral video and subsequent arrest have dominated social media discussions. The Viral Video and Initial Controversy They argue that the influencer's age and her
: Panoli allegedly made derogatory and communal remarks directed at a specific religious community. Her comments were made in the context of "Operation Sindoor" and recent attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
In May 2025, a video posted by Sharmistha Panoli went viral across Instagram and other social media platforms. The content centered on a deeply sensitive and controversial topic: The Viral Video and Initial Controversy : Panoli
: On May 30, 2025, Kolkata Police tracked her to Gurugram , where she was arrested and subsequently brought back to Kolkata to face charges in Alipur Court .
: Cops stated they attempted to serve several notices to Panoli under Section 35 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) , but she allegedly avoided contact.
: The video quickly spread beyond her immediate followers, sparking intense debate over the boundaries of free speech versus hate speech in the digital age. Kolkata Police Action and Arrest