On Thursday night, Kolkata Police arrested Sharmistha Panoli, a 22-year-old law student from Pune, who was living in Gurugram, due to a new issue involving online speech and religion. The arrest was the result of Panoli’s Instagram video, which was deleted after she used controversial words about Islam and Prophet Muhammad. The video was posted as a response to a post regarding Operation Sindoor which is why it was widely shared on social media

What Led to the Controversy?

Panoli’s video pointed out why Bollywood stars remained quiet on Sindoor, and it soon became extremely popular online. Nevertheless, the nature of what she said, which police described as disrespectful and insulting to a religion, was what led to such a backlash. Besides trolling, people sent alarming messages to her, which is why a formal complaint was filed at the Garden Reach Police Station, Kolkata.

Police Arrest and Further Legal Measures

After the video went viral, Kolkata Police filed an FIR against Panoli for instigating enmity, hurting religious feelings and creating public trouble, as set out by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. After the video was deleted and she apologised on X (formerly Twitter), officials tried to reach Panoli and her family, but they became unreachable.

A Kolkata Police official explained that the family were given multiple notices, but they were not found at the time. Then, the police handled the case within the court system. An arrest warrant was issued for her, and Kolkata Police arrested her from Gurugram late on Thursday night.

Indian Law, Police Statement, and Panoli’s Response 

The FIR against Panoli was opened under several serious parts of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, according to police claims. These are 196(1)(a), 299, 352 and 353(1)(c), which fight against promoting enmity, outrage, insult and provocation intended to incite disorder.

After the uproar happened, Panoli made her Instagram private and removed everything she posted elsewhere on social media. Yet, she took steps to deal with the problem, and on May 15, she unreservedly apologized in her Instagram story highlights, saying she never intended to offend anyone’s religious beliefs.

On May 31, Panoli is supposed to be heard before a court in Kolkata. That is when choices are made about how to proceed further in the legal system. It is expected that there will be an attempt by her lawyers to question the arrest, saying there were problems with the procedure and that her public apology should have been considered. 

Panoli’s Apology

Panoli apologised to the public. She wrote on X, "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." In spite of all this, the legal procedure rolled on, with Panoli taken into police custody and the investigation still in progress.

What Makes This Case Important

What has happened makes it clear that religious feelings in India are easy to hurt. It also points out that online speech has actual effects in the real world, especially when it is seen as offensive or disrespectful to a group. Panoli’s arrest far from Pune and Kolkata in Gurugram demonstrates how seriously law enforcement is handling these cases.

At the same time, it leads us to ask about the limits of freedom of speech, the way people should use social media and the laws that govern such discussions online.

The case of Sharmistha Panoli acts as a warning for students, influencers and everyone on social media. The words we post online can be seen by many, may offend or upset others and sometimes end up causing problems with the law. As the case proceeds, it will be necessary to see how India tackles the issues of digital speech, laws, and promoting harmony between different communities. 

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday presented the second chargesheet in the Karuvannur service Cooperative Bank fraud case, accusing the CPI-M and a few of its senior leaders, among them K Radhakrishnan MP and former minister AC Moideen.

Investigation officer Nirmal Kumar Mosha filed the chargesheet before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court in Kochi, with 28 individuals as newly accused. They include former CPI-M Thrissur district secretaries AC Moideen, MM Varghese and K Radhakrishnan.MP. The case now has a total of 83 accused.

"The party has also committed offenses like interfering with the operations of the Karuvannur Bank, helping the accused to fraudulently obtain loans and thus cheat the bank, knowingly distributing the money gained through fraud, having that money in their custody with an intention to use it in the future by falsely portraying it as unsoiled, and spending that money in acquiring assets," the charge sheet states.

With respect to K Radhakrishnan MP's involvement in the case, the ED alleges that while he was CPI-M Thrissur District Secretary between 2016 and 2018, his District Committee at that time knowingly assisted the accused in receiving the proceeds of crime. Part of these proceeds were purportedly spent by the party in raising funds and buying real estate for a party office.

The chargesheet has also brought to focus the contribution of former minister A C Moideen while he was serving as District Secretary between 2011 and 2016. The charge sheet points out that he too knowingly helped the accused obtain fraudulent loans from the bank.

Some of the CPI-M leaders whose names surfaced during the ED probe but were not referred to in the charge sheet are Industries Minister P Rajeev, Kerala Bank vice-president MK Kannan, former minister Paloli Mohammed Kutty and former MP PK Biju.

The case is that the Karuvannur service cooperative bank, which is under the control of the CPI-M. It had disbursed loans by fraudulent means and hence incurred massive financial loss to itself as well as the depositors. It was also accused of issuing loans in contravention of the rules and regulation and without sufficient collateral security. This is a scam of illegal handling and abuse of over Rs 300 crore. The funds were withdrawn from the account of the customers by submitting forged documents and benami loans.

Nowadays, the importance of commerce and law working together is greater than ever. A BCom LLB degree in India prepares law students for jobs in corporate or business law by teaching them the law and how businesses work, so firms prize them for their unique set of skills. In this analysis, you’ll learn more about how a BCom-LLB course sets you up for success in this fast-paced area of law and business, using recent statistics and trends.

What is B Com LLB?

In a BCom LLB program, students spend five years combining concepts from commerce such as accounting, business management and economics with a strict legal education. Subjects taught in the curriculum include Corporate Law, Business Law, Tax Law and Constitutional Law, preparing the students for careers in several areas of law and business.

What the Course Covers and Major Topics?

The program aims to give students the necessary knowledge in business and law. Important topics are covered under the following subjects:

• Corporate Law
• Business Law
• Taxation Law
• Company Law
• Contract Law
• Securities Law
• Laws dealing with intellectual property
• Labour Law
• Writing and Research in the Law
• Mergers and acquisitions 

Because of this extensive curriculum, graduates have a clear grasp of the rules regulating business, finances and regulations.

What Careers Can You Choose with a BCom LLB?

BCom LLB graduates are ready to take various positions in corporate and business law. Popular jobs to consider are:

• Corporate Lawyer: Offering advice to companies on mergers, acquisitions, following regulations and good governance.
• Legal Advisor: Helping companies make effective legal decisions.
• Compliance Officer: Helps organisations to follow all legal and regulatory standards.
• Tax Consultant: Helping clients develop tax saving plans for their businesses.
• Legal Manager/Chief: Looking after legal matters within big companies.
• In-house Counsel: Supporting businesses within the company in matters of law.

Leading recruiters are Amarchand & Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co, Trilegal, Reliance and ICICI Bank.

Current pay trends and the potential for advancement

There are lucrative employment opportunities, mostly in corporations, for graduates of the BCom LLB. As the most recent statistics reveal that a corporate lawyer or legal advisor generally earns from 3 lakhs to 6 lakhs a year when they start out. With three to five years of work experience, mid-level lawyers can expect to earn between INR 8-14 lakhs annually. Also, senior experts (with 10 or more years of experience) can expect to earn up to INR 20 lakhs annually and some highly specialized jobs can pay more than INR 25 lakhs. Salaries depend on the applicant’s knowledge, practical experience gained during internships and the items an organization is known for.

Why Going for BCom LLB is Suitable for Corporate Lawyers?

1. Dual Expertise: Because they have learned both commerce and law, graduates are well-prepared to understand how business and laws connect. In corporate law, it is very valuable because legal outcomes affect the way a business operates.

2. Specialized Electives:With electives, students may study company law, securities law, mergers and acquisitions and intellectual property law, corresponding to the skills required in corporate work.

3. Practical Training: An essential part of the course is working with law firms, corporate legal departments and regulatory bodies through internships. This helps students understand work environments and make contacts who may open new career opportunities to them.

4. Regulatory and Global Relevance: Because of global trade, advancements in technology and updated regulations, BCom LLB graduates are prepared to treat difficult topics in international business law, data protection and compliance. 

How to Ensure Your BCom LLB Is Beneficial for Corporate Law

• Apply for internships at well-known law firms or companies related to your field to learn by doing.
• Make sure you take electives that relate to your future work in business law.
• Look into obtaining more certifications or a LLM in Corporate Law to focus more on your area.
• Remain informed about new business trends, changes in regulations and important corporate cases.

All-in-all, law students wanting to pursue corporate and business law should consider getting a BCom LLB degree. Because it covers commerce, law, practice and strong industry interest, this field leads to high-growth roles in leading Indian law firms and businesses. For anyone hoping to have a long-lasting legal career, the BCom LLB makes a lot of sense. Take a Law entrance exam like AICLET 2025, and start your journey. Contact us for a free consultation (add number and link).

Today, on 14 May 2025, at Rashtrapati Bhavan a historical event happened where Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai took the oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), a remarkable day for the Indian judiciary. 

President Droupadi Murmu swore in the newly elected MPs. People present at the event included Prime Minister Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Union Ministers, and senior members of the judiciary. The photos from this event are widely shared on social media sites due to its significance. However, netizens have mixed reactions for obvious reasons. 

Justice Gavai’s appointment is intriguing for several reasons that law students should keenly follow. He is the first Buddhist CJI and the second person from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community who is holding this post after the former CJI Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (2007-2010). His appointment has been seen as a sign of inclusivity and constitutional morality in the topmost parts of the judiciary.

Born in 1960 at Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai undertook his legal career in 1985 and became the judge of Bombay High Court in 2003, becoming permanent from 2005. He joined the Supreme Court on the 24 th day of May in 2019 and since then has been involved in numerous Constitution Benches that made landmark rulings. Chief Justice of India tenure is of 6 months, indicating that B.R.Gavai will be the CJI until November 23, 2025, after Justice Sanjiv Khanna retired on 13th May. 

For law students,our 52nd Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai’s judicial experience is full of valuable lessons about operations of the higher judiciary. He has been a member of benches that decided important cases including:

• Preserving the abrogation of Article 370 that nullified the special status of Jammu & Kashmir.
• Doing away with the scheme of electoral bonds.
• Upholding the 2016 demonetisation move.
• Passing orders against arbitrary demolitions and reminding the state that its action must comply with due-process.
• Issuance of bail in high profile cases of political leaders and civil rights activists like Manish Sisodia and Teesta Setalvad

Justice B.R. Gavai’s approach is envisioned by the commitment to constitutional supremacy and procedural fairness. During a less formal engagement with the journalists’ he restated the importance of constitutional limitations to the three arms of democracy, emphasizing on the functioning of the judiciary as the guardian of the constitution.

His appointment as the new chief justice of India brings the much-needed representation of marginalised communities in the judiciary. The Supreme Court collegium, in the process of recommending his elevation, had noted that it was time to have a judge of the Scheduled Caste category after almost a decade.

With his tenure, the judgements that Justice Gavai will make and the legacy that he will create will be closely followed. His emergence as a top contender in the presidential campaign bequeaths a lesson on the changing terrains of judicial leadership in India and the persistence of diversity, equity, and constitutional values in the legal circles.