A 22-year-old law student from Pune was arrested by the Kolkata police from Gurgaon on Friday afternoon for allegedly hurting religious sentiments with her remarks on Operation Sindoor on social media.

The police identified the student as Sharmistha Panoli. A fourth-year BBA LLB Honours student at Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Panoli had deleted the allegedly offensive post on Instagram and apologised for her remarks on X. She was produced before a Gurgaon court and will be brought to Kolkata on transit remand, officials said.

“A complaint was received, and the investigation is going on. As per law, all necessary steps will be taken,” Harikrishna Pai, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Port Division, told The Indian Express.

According to police sources, a case was registered against Panoli at the Garden Reach Police station on May 15. The FIR was lodged under sections 196(1) (a) promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 ( intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

After the FIR was lodged, attempts were made to serve notice as per the law, but the accused and her family had absconded, police sources alleged. Subsequently, a warrant of arrest was issued, based on which she was arrested from Gurgaon, the sources added.

In her post on X, Panoli had said, “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.”