Threats against Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee of the Calcutta High Court have sparked alarm and condemnation after he denied bail to social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli on June 3, following her communal remarks in a now-deleted video. Despite Panoli issuing an unconditional apology, multiple FIRs were filed, leading to her arrest. The case has since been consolidated by court order, with the next hearing scheduled for June 5.
However, it was the online reaction to the judge’s decision that quickly escalated from criticism to violent threats, primarily from anonymous accounts on X (formerly Twitter). These users accused the judge of political bias and issued direct threats, referencing mob violence, doxxing attempts, and even invoking “unknown gunmen”, alluding to the real-world killing of U.S. health executive Brian Thompson.
Some of the most disturbing posts included:
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“Kill Partha Sarathi Chatterjee” — posted by an anonymous user.
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“This scum bong… deserves kambal kutai...or some unknown gunmen” — a call for vigilante justice.
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“Let’s see if we can find his home address” — a clear doxxing attempt.
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“Prime time to set an example… Off-topic: the French Revolution was a crazy moment” — a chilling allusion to public executions.
The accounts issuing threats shared common traits: no real names or photos, recently created, and fixated on Indian political discourse despite claiming international locations. One used a WWE wrestler’s image, others used cartoons or abstract icons.
Several posts tried to mask violent intent as satire or historical commentary, a tactic often used to dodge platform moderation. However, many crossed into criminal territory, suggesting a coordinated online campaign of intimidation and incitement.
India Today’s fact-check investigation highlighted these trends, underlining the risks posed by unchecked online abuse—particularly towards judicial figures. These threats not only endanger the judge’s safety but also pose a serious challenge to the independence of the judiciary.
Sharmistha Panoli’s legal team is expected to push for bail again during the next hearing. Meanwhile, law enforcement and social media platforms are under pressure to track down and take action against those issuing explicit threats—including those seeking the judge’s personal information for malicious use.
This episode once again exposes the dark side of social media weaponization, especially in politically charged cases, and underscores the urgent need for stronger safeguards for judicial officers, both online and offline.
