Kangana Ranaut Supports Arrested Instagram Influencer Sharmistha: Says "She Must Be Released Immediately"

What Did Kangana Say?

Posting on her Instagram, Kangana wrote:

“It’s not fair to harass a young girl for expressing her opinion. She may have used some inappropriate words, but she has apologized, and that should be enough. There is no need to threaten or persecute her further. She must be released immediately.”

Why Was Sharmistha Arrested?

Kolkata Police arrested Sharmistha from Gurugram last Friday. She was accused of posting a video criticizing Bollywood celebrities’ silence on ‘Operation Sindoor’, in which she allegedly made objectionable remarks targeting a particular religion.

In the video, Sharmistha said:

“There are 3-4 actors who talk about dying for the country in films, but when it came to supporting soldiers, they remained silent. They should be ashamed.”

Trigger: Argument With Pakistani User

On May 14, following an argument with a Pakistani social media user, Sharmistha posted a fiery video where she commented on terrorism, Pakistan, and a specific religion. The video went viral, and she began receiving rape and death threats on social media.

Arrest Despite Apology

On May 15, Sharmistha deleted the video and issued a written apology, stating her intention was not to hurt anyone’s sentiments. Nevertheless, an FIR was registered, and she was arrested.

Court Denies Bail, Judicial Custody Till June 13

On May 31, Kolkata Police produced her before the Alipore CJM Court, where her bail plea was rejected, and she was sent to judicial custody till June 13. While leaving the court, Sharmistha stated, “This is not a democracy.”

Support Trending Online

Following her arrest, hashtags like #ReleaseSharmistha and #IStandWithSharmistha began trending on social media. Many users have called it an “attack on freedom of expression.”