‘She realised where profanity led her’: Influencer Sharmistha Panoli off social media for now, says father; to focus on law degree

KOLKATA: "My daughter voluntarily decided to be off social media for the time being and vowed to be more careful about what she writes and speaks," said the father of the fourth-year law student who was granted bail by Calcutta HC on Thursday, a week after being arrested in a hate-speech case for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. He told TOI hours after her release on Friday."She is a smart and educated girl. She realised where profanity led her. I am certain she will learn from her mistakes and will make the right career choices now."Although she was granted interim bail by a vacation bench on Thursday, she could only be released from Alipore women's correctional home on Friday afternoon following receipt and presentation of the court order and related documents before the jail authorities.He said his daughter suffers from Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and kidney stone ailments and is back on medication immediately after the release as she was off medicines during the jail stay."The court allowed the medicines but as per protocol, medicines cannot be administered to undertrial prisoners in the absence of the prescription which we lost during our transit from Kolkata, Pune, and Gurugram. The doctor advised her lots of rest and to take the medicines again," he added.Speaking to TOI, her father said they were original inhabitants of Bengaluru who came to Kolkata seven years ago and started living in a complex off Bypass. "Since back home, she is speaking to her grandparents, relatives, friends, and cousins who were all very worried about her safety. Jail is not a desirable place for anyone, and our entire family was really worried. Finally, we all can get some much-needed rest and sleep. She has also been advised to sleep a lot," he said.According to him, now that she is out of prison, she will focus on securing law degree. "She missed some exams last month which may impact her degree. We will approach the university soon seeking clarity and will plead with them to allow her to appear in the exams she missed," he said.He, however, said they were still worried about her and the entire family's safety even after her release. "We are still in shock over the kind of threats we received. There were rape and murder threats and whatnot. But, as law-abiding citizens, we have faith in the police administration and will also cooperate with the cops in the probe in whatever manner possible," he added.