Sharmistha Panoli’s Arrest by West Bengal Police: Legal Implications and Applicability of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Sections on Religious Sentiments and Communal Harmon
In Sharmistha Panoli’s case, police charged her under Sections 196, 297, and 300 of the BNS after she criticized religious practices online. The arrest sparks debate over free speech, intent requirements, overcriminalization, and judicial safeguards under India’s new criminal law.