Latest news with #Qadri
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hate speech: BJP files FIR against man who accused Sharmistha; Wazahat Khan now faces charges himself
. NEW DELHI: BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul and West Bengal BJP legal cell member Sanjukta Samanta have filed FIRs against Wazahat Khan Qadri, who had complained against influencer Sharmistha Panoli for alleged communal remarks on social media. The FIRs were registered at Ballygunge police station in Kolkata and Howrah police station. Qadri is accused of regularly making communal and inflammatory remarks on social media. A senior police officer earlier confirmed that at least seven separate complaints were filed against him, including at the Lalbazar cyber cell. 'We are verifying the social media content and further legal action will follow,' the officer added. Qadri's account on X has since been locked. Qadri has been "untraceable" since Sunday, according to police sources. His father, Saadaq Khan, has alleged that a 'witch hunt' has been launched against his son ever since Panoli's arrest. He also claimed that Qadri's accounts may have been hacked and denied that his son harboured any hatred toward any religion. 'My son is secular. We've been receiving threats since Sharmistha's arrest,' he said. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court granted interim bail to Sharmistha Panoli on Thursday. The bench ruled that the FIR against her did not reveal any cognisable offence. Panoli, a law student, was arrested from Gurugram last week following the circulation of a video in which she criticised Bollywood actors in context of Operation Sindoor.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- New Indian Express
Calcutta HC grants interim bail to influencer Sarmishtha Panoli arrested over Operation Sindoor post
The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, who was recently arrested by Kolkata Police for allegedly posting a video containing communal remarks. The High Court directed her to furnish a bail bond of Rs 10,000. Panoli, who was arrested from Gurugram and remanded to judicial custody till June 13, came under fire after uploading a video on Instagram criticising Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor. The post triggered a wave of online backlash, with many users posting threatening comments. Panoli subsequently deleted the video and issued a public apology. Her lawyer claimed that at least four FIRs were registered against her across different police stations in West Bengal. Her arrest was based on a complaint filed by Wajahat Khan Qadri at the Garden Reach police station in Kolkata. The Kolkata Police have now registered an FIR against Qadri, accusing him of uploading 'malicious and inflammatory content' on social media that allegedly hurt the sentiments of a religious community. A senior police officer confirmed that Qadri is currently absconding, and an investigation has been launched. The complaint against Qadri was filed by a religious trust, Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad, at the same police station where he had earlier complained against Panoli. Authorities say multiple similar complaints have been lodged against Qadri in Mumbai, Assam, and other parts of the country, accusing him of spreading hate speech and making derogatory remarks against religious deities. Qadri's family, however, has defended him, stating he is 'innocent and secular'.
Scroll.in
a day ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Complainant in Sharmishta Panoli case booked for hurting religious sentiments
The Kolkata Police stated on Wednesday that the man whose complaint led to the arrest of 22-year-old law student Sharmishta Panoli has been booked for posting 'malicious and inflammatory' content on social media, reported PTI. However, the man, identified as 30-year-old Wajahat Khan Qadri, was absconding, an unidentified police officer told the news agency. 'We have started an investigation into the case,' said the officer. Qadri was booked under the same sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as Panoli – promoting enmity between different groups, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens, intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace and statements that incite public mischief, The Indian Express quoted an unidentified police officer as saying. Panoli, a fourth-year business and law student at a Pune university, was arrested by the Kolkata Police in Gurugram on May 30 for her remarks about Prophet Muhammad on social media. She deleted the post later and issued an apology on X. A case was filed against Panoli based on Qadri's complaints at Kolkata's Garden Reach Police Station on May 15. An arrest warrant had been issued against her on May 17, after which she was arrested from Gurugram, brought to Kolkata on a transit remand and remanded to judicial custody till June 13. The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to the 22-year-old law student. Following Panoli's arrest, at least five complaints were filed against Qadri in West Bengal, including two at the Garden Reach Police Station, for alleged hate speech and derogatory remarks on social media that hurt religious sentiments, The Indian Express reported. Qadri had allegedly demanded action against Panoli on social media and later celebrated her arrest. The FIR against him was registered based on one of the complaints filed by a man named Sujit Ghosh at the Golf Green Police Station, according to the newspaper. The first complaint against Qadri was filed by a Hindu outfit, Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad, on June 2, The Indian Express reported. The outfit alleged that the 30-year-old's posts promoted enmity between religious groups and demanded his arrest for hurting 'Hindu sentiments'. Several complaints have been filed against Qadri in different parts of the country, including Mumbai, Delhi and Assam, for alleged hate speech and making derogatory remarks against religious deities on social media, PTI reported. An unidentified police officer told The India Express that the Assam Police and Delhi Police were also looking for him. A three-member team of the Assam Police had visited the area where Qadri lives in Kolkata's Garden Reach.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- General
- Business Standard
Sharmistha Panoli's accuser booked for hate speech, missing: Kolkata Police
Kolkata Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Wajahat Khan Qadri, who had earlier filed a complaint that led to the arrest of social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli. Senior police officers confirmed on Wednesday that Qadri is currently absconding. According to officials, the FIR was based on a separate complaint accusing Qadri of posting 'malicious and inflammatory' content online, allegedly intended to hurt the religious sentiments of a community. "He is presently absconding,' a senior Kolkata Police officer said, adding "We have started an investigation into the case." Complaint by religious trust The complaint was lodged by Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad at Garden Reach Police Station in Kolkata — the same station where Qadri filed his case against Panoli. Reports indicate that several other complaints have also been filed against Qadri across the country, including in Mumbai and Assam, accusing him of spreading hate speech and making derogatory remarks about Hindu religious deities in his social media posts. Qadri, who is associated with the Rashidi Foundation and lives in the Garden Reach area, is yet to be traced. His family, however, maintain that he is 'innocent and secular'. Panoli held following Qadri's complaint Based on Qadri's complaint, Panoli was arrested in Gurugram last Friday for allegedly posting a video with communal remarks. She had commented on Bollywood celebrities remaining silent about Operation Sindoor. On Saturday, she was brought before the Alipore Court in Kolkata, which remanded her to judicial custody until June 13. 'We moved our bail application before the court, citing that the articles that have been allegedly stated by the prosecution to have been used, the mobile phone and the laptop, have already been seized," her lawyer, Md Samimuddin, told ANI. "Subsequently, the court heard our prayer. The police custody prayer was sought by the prosecution, which was turned down and rejected. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody till 13th of June, 2025.' Police defend legality of arrest Kolkata Police addressed concerns raised online over the legality of Panoli's arrest. In a post on X, they stated, *'In reference to Garden Reach Police Station Case No. 136 dated 15.05.2025, certain social media narratives suggesting an unlawful arrest of a law student are factually incorrect and misleading.'* They added, 'All legal procedures were duly adhered to. All attempts were made to serve notice, but she was found absconding on every occasion. Consequently, a warrant of arrest was issued by the competent court, following which she was apprehended lawfully from Gurgaon. She was thereafter produced before the appropriate magistrate and granted transit remand as per due process of law.' Viral video and backlash The incident began when Panoli posted a video on Instagram on May 14, responding to a question from a Pakistani follower about India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. In the video, she allegedly made offensive remarks about Islam and Prophet Muhammad and criticised Bollywood celebrities for not speaking out. The video soon went viral, leading to a severe backlash, including rape and death threats against her. On May 15, she deleted the video and issued a public apology 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.' She also said that her comments were a reaction to threats from 'radical Pakistani terrorists', and added, 'Mere liye mera desh pehle aata hai (My country comes first for me)". Panoli, a law student in Pune, was subsequently arrested in Gurugram and taken to Kolkata on transit remand.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Morning news wrap: RCB, Virat Kohli win IPL, ending 18-year wait; Mass shooting in Toronto & more
Virat Kohli; Toronto shooting Today's news roundup covers sports, international, and national updates. RCB defeated Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad to win the Indian Premier League for the first time. At least one person died and five others were injured following a shooting in Canada's Toronto. The three Indian nationals who went missing in Iran recently, have been rescued, the Iranian embassy in India announced. The man whose FIR led to the arrest of Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli is "untraceable". Elon Musk has initiated his first public clash with Donald Trump following the billionaire's sudden departure from the US government last week. IPL 2025: Virat Kohli end his 18-year wait, courtesy Krunal Pandya, Rajat Patidar, Liam Livingstone and Jitesh Sharma In a high-pressure game, RCB stuck to their strengths and defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by six runs. The win ended RCB's — and Virat Kohli's — 18-year wait for the elusive silverware. Kohli, who has been with the franchise since its inception, finally lifted the IPL trophy. RCB had lost three previous IPL finals. A common theme in those defeats was their reliance on two or three individual performances. This time, however, they built a team — instead of just banking on their superstar. Read full story Mass shooting in Toronto: At least one dead, 5 hospitalised; probe on Toronto police and paramedics responded to reports of gunfire just after 8.30 pm (local time) near Flemington and Zachary Roads, in the area of Ranee Avenue and Allen Road. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Police said one man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other five were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. Their injuries are unknown at the time. Mayor Olivia Chow said she is 'disturbed' by the incident and confirmed her office is in contact with police. Read full story Found & released: 3 Indians missing in Iran rescued by cops in Tehran According to the Iran's Mehr news agency, the men, who are from Punjab, were stopped in Iran on May 1 while on their way to Australia. A local travel company had promised them lucrative jobs in Australia. The group was "freed" in a police operation against the hostage-takers in south Tehran's Varamin. "Three missing Indian citizens freed by Tehran police. Local media in Iran say police have found and released three Indian men who had gone missing in Iran," the Iranian embassy in India said. Read full story Sharmishta Panoli row: Wazahat Khan Qadri, who filed plaint against Instagram influencer 'untraceable' Multiple FIRs have been lodged against Qadri in Kolkata, Assam, and Delhi. In Kolkata, an FIR has been lodged at Golf Green PS. KP cyber cell is probing another plaint filed in Garden Reach PS for denigrating Hindu deities. A case has been registered in Assam against Qadri for allegedly denigrating several Hindu deities, including Goddess Kamakhya. Assam Police have not made any official statement regarding the case till now. Read full story Elon Musk calls Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' a 'disgusting abomination' Musk took to his social media platform X and stated: "This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination. Shame on those who voted for it: you know you did wrong." The White House, however, appeared unperturbed by his remarks, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that Musk's position hasn't altered the president's stance. Read full story
