"Misleading": Kolkata police clarifies rumours of 'unlawful' arrest of law student

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], June 1 (ANI): Kolkata police Sunday said that some social media accounts are spreading false information that Kolkata Police has "unlawfully" arrested a law student for opposing Pakistan.
"This narrative is mischievous and misleading," Kolkata police said. "Expressing national pride and patriotism is a thing that every citizen and organisation stands for. Kolkata Police being no different, stands firmly with the citizens of India"
In their statement, the Kolkata police said, "It's again reiterated that in the instant incident, a case was registered against the accused at Gardenreach PS on 15.05.24 on the basis of allegations that she posted a video which was insulting to the religious belief of a class of citizen of India and amounted to promoting disharmony and hatred between different communities. The case was registered under appropriate section of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita. The case was duly investigated and adhering to legal procedures, several attempts were made to serve notice u/s 35 of BNSS to the accused but everytime she was found absconding. Consequently a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent Court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurgaon during day time. She was thereafter produced before the appropriate Magistrate and was granted transit remand as per due process of law. Later the Court sent her to judicial custody"
The statement added that hate speech targeting any religious figure or community or any class of citizens of India which has potential to incite disharmony and hatred between different communities is a punishable offence in the newly implemented Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
"Hate speech & abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech & expression as enshrined in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution," Kolikata police said.
"Kolkata Police acted lawfully according to the procedure established by law. The accused was not arrested for expressing patriotism or for personal belief; legal actions were taken for sharing offensive content which promotes hatred among the communities. We urge the all concerned to act responsibly and refrain from doing anything that would benefit our enemies," the statement added.
Kolkata Police arrested Panoli from Haryana's Gurugram on Friday night. She is a law student in Pune, Maharashtra. On Saturday, Panoli was produced before the Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her in judicial custody for 14 days.
According to the Kolkata Police, several attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but the attempts were unsuccessful because Panoli and her family absconded.Subsequently, an arrest warrant was issued by the court, based on which she was arrested from Gurugram on Friday.
"The case relates to an Instagram video by a lady named Sharmishta Panoli that hurt the religious sentiments of a particular community. FIR was lodged in Garden Reach Police Station. Attempts to serve notice as per law couldn't be successful since the accused, with her family absconded. Subsequently, warrant of arrest was issued by the court of law, based on which she was arrested from Gurgaon yesterday," as per the Kolkata Police.
However, Panoli had deleted the video and issued an apology on May 15. (ANI)