Latest news with #WajahatKhan
India Today
2 days ago
- General
- India Today
Assam cops reach home of Wajahat Khan, complainant In Sharmistha Panoli case
After Kolkata police, Assam cops now seek to arrest Wajahat Khan in connection with a case filed against him for allegedly spreading hate speech and hurting religious sentiments. The development follows days after social media influencer Sharmishta Panoli was arrested on the basis of Khan's complaint over hate Assam Police team, comprising five personnel, arrived at Khan's Kolkata home this afternoon, but found no one present. A police source told India Today that Wajahat's father, Saadat Khan, was asked to appear before the investigating officer for questioning. However, he too was not at home when the team Khan has reportedly been missing since Sunday afternoon. His father told India Today that he has been untraceable since then. A senior Kolkata Police officer confirmed to the media outlet that Khan is "absconding" since the FIR was registered against him. This development comes as Khan, head of the Rashidi Foundation, faces growing legal heat across multiple states. An FIR was earlier registered at Garden Reach police station—the same location where he had filed the complaint against Panoli—based on a complaint by a trust named Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad. The complaint accuses Khan of uploading "malicious and inflammatory" posts targeting religious Police had first summoned Khan on Monday for questioning at the Golf Green police station regarding the hate speech allegations. After he failed to appear, a second notice was served at his residence on Tuesday, asking him to report to the station the same day. He remained untraceable, police sources made headlines after his complaint led to the arrest of Sharmistha Panoli, who was picked up from Gurugram for allegedly making communal comments in a video criticizing Bollywood actors for their silence on Operation Sindoor. She was sent to judicial custody till June 13 by a Kolkata court on Saturday.
India Today
3 days ago
- 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
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First Post
3 days ago
- First Post
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, is now in the spotlight. He has been booked by the Kolkata Police after several complaints were filed against him, accusing him of making offensive remarks about Hindu deities, festivals, and customs on social media. He has now gone missing read more sWajahat Khan, whose complaint led to the arrest of Instagram influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli, has now been booked by Kolkata Police. His family says they've been getting threatening calls since Panoli's arrest. Image courtesy:X 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Complaints have been filed against Wajahat Khan in multiple cities, including Guwahati and Delhi, accusing him of making offensive remarks about Hindu deities, festivals, and customs. Image courtesy: X 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. Sharmistha Panoli was arrested in Gurugram on Friday and brought to Kolkata. She has since been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Image courtesy: X 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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Man who accused Sharmishta Panoli goes ‘missing' after multiple cases against him: Report
Wajahat Khan, the man whose police complaint led to the arrest of social media influencer and law student Sharmishta Panoli in Gurugram, has allegedly gone missing, India Today reported. Panoli, 22, was arrested by Kolkata Police on May 30 from Haryana's Gurugram based on a complaint filed by Wajahat Khan at the Garden Reach police station. She was accused of spreading communal hatred through a now-deleted video in which she used abusive language and criticised Bollywood celebrities for remaining silent on Operation Sindoor. Following her arrest, Panoli was produced before a Kolkata court and remanded in judicial custody till June 13. The incident triggered a political controversy, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising the arrest, noting that Panoli had already deleted the video and apologised. Reports of Khan's disappearance have surfaced after multiple complaints were lodged against him in various locations, including Kolkata. Kolkata Police has received a formal complaint against 30-year-old Wazahat Khan Qadri Rashidi, a resident of the city. According to India Today, the complaint was filed by the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad, alleging that Khan posted derogatory and inflammatory remarks against the Hindu community on social media. The complaint, addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of the Garden Reach Police Station and dated June 2, requests the registration of an FIR under sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections 66A and 67 of the IT Act. It accuses Khan of using terms such as 'rapist cultures' and 'urine drinkers' to refer to Hindus. The complaint also claims that Khan employed sexually explicit and vulgar language while insulting Hindu deities, traditions, temples, and festivals. According to the letter, Khan's remarks are aimed at provoking communal discord, disturbing public order, and promoting hostility among religious communities. It calls for swift police action to avoid any escalation of tensions. Separately, an advocate lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police and Cyber Crime Unit, accusing Khan of hate speech, religious defamation, and offensive content under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT Act. Meanwhile, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that a case has been filed in the state against a man from West Bengal for allegedly insulting several Hindu deities, including Goddess Kamakhya. The Assam government has approached West Bengal for his custody, and Sarma noted, "time alone will tell how they react to the request and cooperate with us." Wajahat Khan's father said that the complainant has not been seen since Sunday night, and the family has been receiving threatening phone calls ever since Sharmistha Panoli's arrest. 'My son is innocent and secular. He cannot insult Hinduism. We have been receiving threats since Sharmistha's arrest,' Saadat Khan said during an interview with Aaj Tak, a sister channel of India Today. When asked about the complaint accusing his son of insulting Hinduism, Saadat Khan suggested that Wajahat's social media account might have been hacked. He added that Wajahat had been extremely disturbed by the barrage of abusive and threatening phone calls in recent days, with people accusing him of having ruined Panoli's life. Saadat Khan said he, too, was targeted with similar threatening calls and verbal abuse.
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India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Sharmishta Panoli Row: Why Bengal Polices Action Reflects Selective Targeting
West Bengal Police are facing severe criticism for alleged double standards in their handling of recent cases, drawing parallels to concerns about selective enforcement seen elsewhere. Critics point to two contrasting incidents: the alleged inaction in a case involving an attack on Hindus in Siliguri and the swift arrest of a student, Sharmistha, for offensive remarks against a specific religion. In Siliguri, despite attacks on Hindus, police are accused of being inactive, with perpetrators reportedly roaming free. Conversely, the Kolkata Police arrested 22-year-old Sharmistha from Gurugram, 1500 kilometers away, for allegedly making objectionable comments about a particular religion. In today's DNA, Rahul Sinha Managing editor of Zee News decorded why Bengal police's action in Sharmishta Panoli case reflects selective targeting Watch Today's Full Episode: देखिए DNA LIVE @RahulSinhaTV के साथ#DNA #DNAWithRahulSinha #OperationSpiderWeb #RussiaUkraineWar #ZeeLive — Zee News (@ZeeNews) June 2, 2025 The controversy extends beyond the police to the complainant against Sharmistha, Wajahat Khan. Allegations have surfaced regarding Khan's own track record of offensive social media posts concerning Hindu deities, which police have seemingly ignored. Furthermore, Khan is reportedly linked to the "Sky Foundation," an NGO with alleged connections to Pakistan and an office in Karachi. While Sharmistha remains in judicial custody for 14 days, Wajahat Khan, despite his alleged derogatory comments, remains free. This has led to accusations that West Bengal Police are acting based on religious bias. The Bar Council of India has also questioned the "selective pattern" of the police and the Mamata Banerjee government. Concerns have also been raised about the appointment of Inspector Naushad Akhtar as the investigating officer in Sharmistha's case. Political reactions, including a shared old video of Mamata Banerjee by Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, further fuel accusations of appeasement politics.
