 "Who is Wajahat Khan, the man behind influencer Sharmistha Panoli's arrest?")
Wajahat Khan, whose complaint led to the arrest of Instagram influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, has now been booked by Kolkata Police.
Khan had accused Panoli of sharing a video on social media that allegedly contained hate speech and hurt religious sentiments. She was arrested from Gurugram on Friday and brought to Kolkata, where she was sent to 14 days of judicial custody. Her arrest triggered political backlash, with several BJP leaders calling for her release.
But now, Khan himself is under the spotlight. He is facing multiple complaints and, according to his father, Saadat Khan, has gone missing. His family says they’ve been getting threatening calls since Panoli’s arrest, reports Aaj Tak.
So, who is Wajahat Khan? And what are the complaints filed against him? Here’s a look
Khan’s ‘controversial’ social media posts
Wajahat Khan, reportedly the co-founder of the Rashidi Foundation in Kolkata, the group that lodged the initial complaint against Panoli, is now facing serious allegations himself.
After her arrest, several users began digging into Khan’s social media history. What they found sparked outrage: posts that allegedly contained hate speech and derogatory remarks aimed at the Hindu community.
Screenshots and videos circulating online show Khan making comments that many believe stoke communal tension and mock Hindu beliefs. He had also posted messages demanding Panoli’s arrest and later appeared to celebrate it.
As a result, complaints have been filed against him in multiple cities, including Guwahati and Delhi. These accuse him of making offensive remarks about Hindu deities, festivals, and customs.
One of the key complainants, the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad, alleges that Khan’s posts promoted enmity between religious groups and could potentially incite public disorder.
According to a report by Aaj Tak, the complaint claims Khan used terms like “rapist cultures” and “urine drinkers” to describe Hindus. It also alleges that he posted vulgar and sexually explicit language targeting Hindu gods, while mocking temples, festivals, and other religious practices.
The letter, addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Garden Reach Police Station and dated June 2, calls for action under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c)—in addition to Sections 66A and 67 of the Information Technology Act.
A separate case has also been filed against Khan in Assam. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that a police team from the state would travel to West Bengal and seek cooperation in taking legal action against him.
‘Receiving threats, gone missing’
Wajahat Khan’s family claims he has been missing from his Kolkata residence since Sunday, shortly after his name surfaced in multiple complaints following Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest.
His father, Saadat Khan, told Aaj Tak that the family has been receiving threatening phone calls ever since Panoli was taken into custody.
“My son is innocent and secular. He cannot insult Hinduism. We have been receiving threats since Sharmistha’s arrest,” he said.
According to him, Wajahat was mentally disturbed by the barrage of abuse and threats that flooded his phone over the last few days. Many of the callers allegedly accused him of destroying Panoli’s life.
Saadat Khan also said he himself received similar calls and was verbally abused. Addressing the allegations against his son for posting offensive content online, he suggested that Wajahat’s social media profile may have been hacked.
Why was Sharmistha Panoli arrested?
Sharmistha Panoli was arrested based on a complaint filed at the Garden Reach Police Station on May 15. The complaint alleged that she posted a video on social media that hurt religious sentiments and could provoke communal unrest.
In the now-deleted clip, Panoli criticised Bollywood celebrities, particularly Muslim actors, for staying silent on Operation Sindoor, the Indian military strike that targeted terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The video, which contained strong language and communal undertones, quickly drew backlash online. Panoli later removed the video and issued a public apology.
Despite that, she was arrested in Gurugram on Friday and brought to Kolkata. She has since been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody.
Amid criticism of the arrest, Kolkata Police issued a statement defending their action. They clarified that “hate speech and abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech and expression.”
Panoli is a law student originally from Kolkata’s Anandapur area and is currently studying at a university in Pune. She has been charged under sections related to inciting enmity between religious groups and promoting communal disharmony.
The arrest has triggered political reactions from BJP leaders across West Bengal, with many demanding her immediate release.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari questioned the selective action by police, pointing out that no steps were taken against TMC leaders accused of similar offences.
“TMC MP Mahua Moitra had said such disgraceful things against Goddess Kali, was any action taken against her even after 200 FIRs were filed? Their MP, Sayani Ghosh, had posted about Maha Dev. Was any action taken? So many FIRs against Firhad Hakim, was any action taken?” he said.
Adhikari added, “Action is only taken against Sanatanis. I do not want to comment on what the girl (Panoli) has said, but the TMC is trying to appease a particular community for vote bank politics.”
Bengal BJP president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar echoed similar concerns.
“Sharmistha Panoli, 22, law student, arrested for a now-deleted video and a public apology. No riots. No unrest. Yet Mamata Banerjee’s police acted overnight — not for justice, but for appeasement. But when TMC leaders insult Sanatan Dharma… mock Maha Kumbh, and push communal poison — there’s no FIR, no arrest, no apology. This is not justice. This is vote-bank vendetta,” he posted on social media.
With input from agencies
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