Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairman and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra on Sunday strongly criticised the West Bengal government, calling the arrest of law student Sharmistha Panoli “unfortunate” and a serious violation of freedom of expression.

In a public statement, Mishra said, “I stand firmly with Sharmistha Panoli. Her arrest and judicial custody over a now-deleted social media video — despite her immediate apology — reflects a complete failure of justice. This is a blatant attack on free speech.”

In a press statement, Mishra accused the West Bengal government and Kolkata Police of following a politically motivated and selective pattern of action, allegedly targeting specific communities while ignoring or even protecting more serious offenses by individuals from other groups.

He cited past incidents such as the Marichjhapi massacre, Nandigram violence, political killings and recent Murshidabad communal riots, alleging state complicity or inaction.

Additionally, Mishra claimed that the state has often protected perpetrators of violence against Hindus while coming down harshly on dissenters like Sharmistha.

He also criticised the government for opposing counter-terror operations like “Operation Sindoor,” aimed at avenging brutal killings of innocents, while now silencing a young law student for raising questions about such double standards.

Mishra condemned labeling minor word choices as blasphemy and described the legal action against Sharmistha as inhumane and unjust. Furthermore, he called for her immediate release, a fair hearing, and an end to the double standards allegedly plaguing West Bengal’s justice system.