Latest news with #Sanatani
India Today
03-06-2025
- General
- India Today
Wajahat Khan, who filed Sharmistha Panoli FIR, has cops chasing him now
Wajahat Khan, the Kolkata man whose complaint led to the arrest of 22-year-old Pune law student and social media influencer Sharmistha Panoli, has gone "missing", according to his father. While Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police on Friday, Wajahat has since found himself at the centre of a political slugfest and legal storm. FIRs have been filed against Wajahat in at least three states, with Assam set to dispatch a police team to arrest from West Bengal, Assam and Delhi have either registered FIRs or initiated enquiries against him. He went "missing" after reportedly receiving numerous threats and abuse calls, as claimed by his father, Saadat Khan. In fact, a police team from Dispur is set to travel to West Bengal to bring Wajahat Khan to who is Wajahat Khan, and what exactly has he got himself into after his complaint resulted in Sharmistha Panoli's arrest?WAJAHAT KHAN LODGED FIR AGAINST SHARMISTHA PANOLIWajahat Khan is reportedly the general secretary of the Kolkata-based Rashidi Foundation, the organisation that lodged the initial complaint against Sharmistha Panoli, alleged the Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad, which on Tuesday filed an FIR against the Kolkata Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad, a charitable trust, lodged a complaint against Khan at Kolkata's Garden Reach Police Station, the same station where he had initially filed his complaint against Sharmistha its complaint to Kolkata's Garden Reach Police Station, it accused Wajahat Khan of sharing "malicious and inflammatory posts" on social media that were "intentionally directed toward the Hindu community, its sacred beliefs, and revered deities".In the FIR application to Kolkata Police, undersigned by its secretary, the Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad alleged that Khan used "derogatory and sexually explicit language against Sanatani scriptures and deities like Krishna".The group demanded Khan's immediate arrest, stating that just as the Kolkata Police actively travelled over 1,500 kilometres to arrest Sharmistha Panoli, Khan, a resident of the Garden Reach area, should be held accountable with equal urgency, adding that "the law must be equal for everyone".Little public information is available about Khan's background beyond his role in this case and his social media activity, which has come under intense the X handle that Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad claimed belonged to Wajahat Khan is now locked, while the associated Facebook account appears to have been taken down or is no longer traceable, as of June 3 FIR application urged the police to invoke the following sections against Wajahat Khan: Section 196(1)(a) (promoting enmity on religious grounds), Section 299 (outraging religious feelings), Section 352 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace), Section 353(1)(c) (inciting public mischief), and Sections 66A and 67 of the IT Act for posting offensive and obscene content LEGAL HEAT WAJAHAT KHAN GOT HIMSELF INTOWajahat Khan came under the spotlight after he lodged an FIR against Sharmistha Panoli, which ultimately led to her receiving death threats and to reports, Khan's complaint was based on Panoli's video, which she alleged "promoted communal disharmony and insulted religious sentiments".The video, which Panoli later deleted and apologised for, included remarks against Muslim Bollywood celebrities and referred to Islamic faced massive backlash, including demands for her arrest from AIMIM spokesperson Waris was arrested by Kolkata Police on May 30 from Gurugram, following Khan's complaint filed on May 15 at the Garden Reach Police arrest of Sharmistha Panoli sparked political outrage, with BJP leaders criticising it as "selective enforcement", while Kolkata Police defended it as lawful action against hate KHAN IS INNOCENT AND SECULAR, CLAIMS FATHERWajahat Khan, now facing multiple complaints himself for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Hindu deities and traditions on social media, has not been seen since Sunday night, alleges his father, Saadat Khan, claims they have been receiving threatening calls since Panoli's arrest, and insists Wajahat Khan is "innocent and secular", suggesting his "social media account may have been hacked", India Today's sister news portal AajTak reported."Wajahat Khan was getting calls from different numbers every five minutes. They abused him and said that he had trapped Panoli. Three people have even called me. He went into depression," Saadat Khan told Khan also revealed that Wajahat had disappeared since Sunday afternoon, adding, "I don't know where he is. He is not at home since last night".He added that Wajahat's phone remained unreachable, stating, "His phone is switched off".While a complaint has now been filed against Wajahat Khan at the same police station in Kolkata, he is also facing legal action from other states, all seeking to bring him to TO SEND POLICE TEAM FOR WAJAHAT'S ARRESTA case against Wajahat Khan has also been filed in Assam, with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announcing that a police team will seek his arrest in West Bengal."A case has been registered against him [Wajahat Khan]. Assam Police will go to Kolkata and request the Bengal government to hand him over, but only time will tell how much cooperation the Mamata government will extend," Sarma complaint has been filed by advocate Vineet Jindal with the Delhi Police. Jain has accused Khan of hate speech and religious with tables seemingly having turned, Wajahat Khan, once the complainant, now finds himself surrounded by multiple FIRs, a raging controversy and, most importantly, a police team chasing him. In trying to call out the influencer Panoli, Wajahat might have unintentionally triggered a storm and got cops on his tail. advertisement
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
21 arrested after Malda clash ‘over parking'; police rule out communal angle
Two groups clashed over parking e-rickshaws at Ratua in West Bengal's Malda district on Saturday evening, leading to property damage, police said while ruling out any communal angle to the incident even as the Opposition BJP made allegations to the contrary. 'A clash between two groups took place over a minor issue of TOTO parking in front of a shop. The two groups resorted to stone pelting and brick-batting causing minor damage to few shops/structures on both sides,' the Malda police wrote on X. 'Police reached the spot and chased away both sides using necessary force and resumed the traffic. No major injuries have been reported. 21 persons have been arrested from both sides in a specific case. Situation remains peaceful and under control. Police continues to remain vigilant.' 'All are again requested not to indulge in rumour-mongering and refrain from posting inciting or fake messages on social media. Stern legal action will be initiated against those trying to trigger unrest,' the police added. However, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari wrote on X, 'Another Night of Terror in Malda: Sanatani Community Under Attack,' the post began. 'Once again, the sanctity of the night has been shattered in Ratua, Malda district, as the Sanatani community faces relentless attacks from radical extremist elements. Their only fault was constructing a Temple.' Adhikari claimed that 'miscreants have targeted the community, pelting stones and bricks indiscriminately, turning the area into a battlefield of fear and destruction.' The post detailed alleged vandalism and looting. 'As always, the Police remain conspicuously absent during these incidents, raising serious questions about their role and responsibility. It is disheartening to see that those who are supposed to protect the citizens are instead turning a blind eye, due to political pressures and appeasement politics,' he wrote. Adhikari further wrote that he had reached out to several high-ranking officials, including the director-general of police, the principal secretary of the home and hill affairs department, the Union home secretary, the Murshidabad district magistrate and the district superintendent of police, through his lawyer, requesting immediate intervention. The situation in Ratua remains tense, with conflicting accounts of the incident circulating. 'We urge all parties to maintain peace and avoid spreading unverified information,' said an official.
India Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Why BJP says Mamata's Digha temple an affront to Jagannath Puri
The BJP has seized the controversy surrounding the newly constructed Digha Jagannath Dham to sharpen its attack on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of desecrating sacred traditions and encroaching upon Odisha's religious suspension of senior servitor Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), Puri, has been used by the party to launch a larger narrative of cultural appropriation and spiritual misconduct by the Mamata May 11, SJTA chief administrator Arabinda Padhee announced that Daitapati Sevak Ramakrushna Das Mahapatra had been suspended for 309 days and barred from entering the 12th century Jagannath Temple in Puri. This followed accusations that he had played a central role in the consecration of the new Jagannath Temple in Digha on April 29-30 and provided surplus Nabakalebar wood—used for making the sacred idols for the Puri shrine—for the construction of the deities for being served two show-cause notices on May 4 and May 9, Mahapatra was found to have acted against established temple norms and made it clear that the action was intended to enforce discipline and preserve the dignity of Mahaprabhu Shree Jagannath's shrine. 'Pride and arrogance must not tarnish our service to the Lord. Our devotion must be reflected in our respect for the sanctity of the temple's customs,' he The BJP, quick to capitalise on the development, turned its criticism directly towards Mamata. Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition in the Bengal legislative assembly, described the servitor's suspension as a 'necessary and welcome action' that reaffirmed the supremacy of the Puri temple's traditions. Adhikari accused Mamata of orchestrating a 'misleading and unauthorised' replication of Puri's sacred rituals at the Digha temple, using state patronage to project the site as a rival pilgrimage destination.'This was not just symbolic imitation—it was an audacious cultural transgression. The local administration, under Mamata's direction, tried to portray Digha as the new Jagannath Dham. This affront has wounded the sentiments of crores of Sanatani devotees,' Adhikari said, insisting that the servitor's collusion in the project demonstrated how religious institutions were being misused for political Malviya, national head of the BJP's IT Cell, echoed the sentiment, alleging that Mamata had offended Hindu religious sensibilities by politicising a deeply revered tradition. 'Devotees of Prabhu Jagannath are dismayed. This is a calculated affront designed to confuse and divide devotees while undermining Odisha's spiritual heritage,' he wrote on social the mounting political pressure, the Shankaracharya of Puri, Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati, made a subtle but significant intervention. He reiterated that only the temple in Puri holds the rightful recognition as 'Jagannath Dham'. While he did not name any individual or refer explicitly to Digha, the context of his remarks left little ambiguity as to whom these were aimed Mamata has come out forcefully in defence of her government's actions and the Digha temple initiative. Speaking at a recent public event in Murshidabad, she dismissed the BJP's accusations as slanderous and politically motivated. 'They said I have stolen wood from Jagannath Temple. Why should I? We have plenty of neem trees in Bengal. Even at my residence, there are four neem trees. At Digha's Jagannath temple, 500 trees have been planted, and another 100 will be planted. We do not want anyone's alms,' Mamata indignant, the chief minister continued: 'We are not beggars, not pickpockets. We are the custodians and not thieves. I constructed such a beautiful temple, which is one of the wonders in the world, and they are alleging that I have stolen neem wood? Prove it—or else the people will give a befitting reply in the coming days.'Despite the uproar, it is undeniable that the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha was received with significant enthusiasm in Bengal. The complex, designed with architectural grandeur and spiritual symbolism, drew thousands of devotees and was hailed by many as a remarkable addition to the state's cultural and religious landscape. For a considerable segment of the population, particularly those in coastal and southern Bengal, the temple has become a source of pride and a spiritual destination in its own this very success is now being wielded by the BJP as proof of Mamata's alleged attempt to create a parallel pilgrimage centre. The party is framing the Digha temple project as an act of religious overreach seeking to appropriate the identity of Puri's sacred dham for political optics in West Odisha, too, the move has struck a nerve. There is widespread sentiment that the sanctity and exclusivity of Puri's Jagannath tradition must be preserved, and any attempt to replicate or reinterpret it outside established bounds is seen as sacrilegious. The BJP's response, in this context, reflects both a defence of regional spiritual heritage and an opportunity to assert ideological dominance over religious the controversy unfolds, it has become clear that what began as a temple inauguration has now escalated into a political-cultural fault line, pitting Bengal's assertion of religious autonomy against Odisha's spiritual guardianship, with the BJP at the centre of the confrontation, attempting to nationalise what was once a regional religious to India Today Magazine
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong's Rafale jibe an insult to Army, says UP BJP chief
Lucknow: UP BJP president Bhupendra Chaudhary on Monday hit back at Congress state chief Ajay Rai for mocking the Centre by hanging 'nimbu-mirchi' on a toy Rafale jet over alleged inaction in wake of the Pahalgam attack and said it was an 'insult to the armed forces'. "The official stand of the Congress and the INDIA bloc was that they are with the govt. But their leaders are continuously attacking the Indian Army with their statements to demoralise it. Rai's action not only insulted the Indian Army but also exposed the corrupt mentality of the Congress," Chaudhary said. He added that only a day ago, Rafale took off from Uttar Pradesh (from Ganga Expressway airstrip) and gave a strong message to Pakistan. Rai had on Sunday shown a toy plane depicting Rafale fighter aircraft with lemon and chillies hanging from it and asked the govt when it will put them to use against terrorists. He noted that lemon and chillies were tied to the aircraft, a ritual to ward off the evil, following India's acquisition of the fighter planes from France. "They remain parked with lemon and chillies tied to them. When will they be put to use," he had asked. The UP BJP chief said the history of the Congress was full of anti-national statements. "Rai's statement is proof that while opposing BJP, Congress has started opposing India and the army. The opposition leaders are trying to become Pakistan's favourite," he said. "Indian army will give a befitting reply to Pakistan, and the people of the country will wipe out the anti-national political parties," he said. Chaudhary also slammed SP chief Akhilesh Yadav for disrespecting Sanatan culture. Yadav on Monday took potshots at UP CM Yogi Adityanath for advocating the use of cow dung-based paint for govt buildings. "Gobarnama: BJP govt's new feat," Yadav had posted on X. Chaudhary said Sanatan culture was cow-based, and every Sanatani respects the cow like a mother. He advised Akhilesh to stop calling himself a descendant of Lord Krishna and learn from PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adiyanath how to respect cows.
United News of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Bangladeshi Hindu monk Chinmoy Das to remain in jail, shown arrested in another case
Dhaka, May 5 (UNI) Bangladeshi Hindu monk Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, ex leader of ISKCON, who is currently in prison, has been shown as arrested in a case filed over the murder of a lawyer on the day of his arrest in Chittagong on November 26 last year. Chittagong's Sixth Metropolitan Magistrate SM Alauddin granted the police application during a virtual hearing on Monday. Earlier, on Sunday, investigating officers submitted applications to show Chinmoy arrested in four cases, including the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif, obstruction of police duties, and attacks on lawyers and litigants, the Dhaka Tribune reported. Among these, the court granted the application for shown arrest in the Alif murder case on Monday after a virtual hearing. The hearings on the applications for shown arrest in the remaining three cases are scheduled to take place virtually on Tuesday. Public Prosecutor of the Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court Md Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan, told the Tribune: 'Investigating officers submitted applications on Sunday to show Chinmoy Krishna Das arrested in four cases. The court today (Monday) granted the shown arrest in the Alif murder case after a virtual hearing. The hearings on the other three applications will be held on Tuesday.' Chittagong Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) Mofiz Uddin said: 'The court has granted the application to show Chinmoy Das arrested in the case concerning the murder of lawyer Saiful Islam Alif. This order was passed on Monday following a virtual hearing.' Chinmoy Das, spokesperson for Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatan Jagaran Jote, was earlier arrested in a case of sedition. It followed an event held on October 25, 2024, when a large gathering of the Sanatani community was organised in Chittagong under the leadership of Chinmoy Krishna Das. On October 31, a sedition case was filed against him, alleging disrespect to the Bangladeshi national flag. A total of 19 individuals, including Chinmoy, were named in the case. Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested in Dhaka on November 25, 2024. On November 26, a Chattogram court sent Chinmoy to jail after rejecting his bail plea in the sedition case. Following the order, his supporters staged a protest, blocking the police prison van. Police charged with batons to disperse the demonstrators, triggering a violent clash in the court area. During the unrest, Advocate Alif was beaten and hacked to death amid a clash involving Chinmoy's supporters, police, and a group of lawyers. In connection with the incident, police filed three separate cases—on charges of attacking police, vandalism, and obstructing law enforcement duties—naming 79 individuals and accusing around 1,400 unidentified others. Alif's father later filed the murder case against 31 individuals, while his brother, Khan-e-Alam, filed another case with Kotwali Police Station, naming 115 accused including 70 lawyers, over vandalism. Another person, Mohammad Ullah Chowdhury, filed a separate case accusing 69 individuals of attacking him during the clashes outside the court building. To date, police have arrested 40 individuals in connection with the various cases. Of them, 11—mostly cleaners by profession—were held for their alleged involvement in the lawyer's murder, based on CCTV footage analysis. Chinmoy's bail application was rejected by the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court of Chittagong on January 2, 2025. Subsequently, he filed a bail petition with the High Court. On February 4, 2025, the High Court issued a two-week rule asking why he should not be granted bail in the sedition case.
