Sharmistha Panoli case: Kolkata Police arrests complainant Wajahat Khan

Wajahat Khan, man who filed complaint against influencer Sharmistha Panoli arrested by Kolkata Police

Wajahat Khan, the man who filed a police complaint that led to the arrest of social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, has been arrested by the Kolkata Police.

Police said Khan had reportedly been absconding since June 1, was taken into custody after several raids, having failed to respond to repeated police summons.

Authorities reported that a case was filed against Wajahat Khan at the Golf Green Police Station for allegedly sharing hate speech and content that hurt religious sentiments on social media. Despite receiving three summons at his Garden Reach home for questioning, Khan avoided appearing before the police and was eventually arrested after continued efforts to locate him.

Panoli was arrested in Gurugram on May 30 after a video she posted went viral, in which she used offensive language and made communal remarks targeting Muslim Bollywood celebrities over their silence on "Operation Sindoor." The video was later deleted, and Panoli issued a public apology. She was remanded to 14-day judicial custody but has since been granted interim bail. The court imposed conditions including a ban on foreign travel without prior permission from the Chief Judicial Magistrate and a bail bond of Rs 10,000.

Following Panoli's arrest, Khan reportedly went missing. His father, Saadat Khan, told media outlets that Wajahat had not returned home and that the family had received threatening calls accusing them of “ruining Panoli’s life.”

On June 2, the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad filed a counter-complaint against Wajahat Khan, addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of the Garden Reach Police Station. The complaint alleges that Khan used inflammatory, derogatory, and sexually explicit language on social media targeting Hindu deities and religious traditions.

Complaints have been filed against him in several cities, including Guwahati and Delhi, accusing him of making offensive remarks about Hindu festivals, deities, and customs on social media. Screenshots and videos from his accounts reportedly show posts that many believe incite communal tension and ridicule Hindu practices. He also shared messages demanding and celebrating the arrest of Sharmistha Panoli.

Several groups, including the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad, have formally accused Khan of promoting communal hatred and disturbing public order. The complaints call for action under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita—196(1)(a), 299, 352, 353(1)(c)—along with Sections 66A and 67 of the Information Technology Act.