Wajahat Khan faces heat after Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest triggers bias allegations against Kolkata Police

Law student and Instagram influencer Sharmistha Panoli was arrested on May 30 from Gurugram based on a complaint filed by Wajahat Khan. She has been sent to judicial custody till June 13. The arrest followed a video she posted related to 'Operation Sindoor', in which she allegedly used communal language while questioning the silence of Muslim artists. The video was taken down on May 15, and Panoli also issued an apology before her arrest.

The case was registered under Section 299 of the Indian Penal Code. Following her arrest, Panoli’s lawyer submitted a petition in court highlighting unhygienic jail conditions and lack of proper healthcare facilities. No hearing outcome has been reported so far. The video in question is no longer available on social media.

Wajahat Khan, the complainant, is identified as a co-founder of the Rashidi Foundation and an alumnus of St. Thomas School, Kolkata. He has come under scrutiny after multiple complaints were filed against him for allegedly posting content on social media that provokes religious sentiments and mocks Hindu gods, goddesses, festivals, and traditions. At least seven such complaints have been registered in Kolkata.

These complaints have been lodged with the Cyber Cell at Lalbazar Police Headquarters and other police stations across Kolkata. They include screenshots and records of social media posts. Complainants include individuals and organizations from various cities, including Guwahati and Delhi. One complainant, Prasoon Maitra, who runs an NGO, questioned, “If swift action can be taken against one influencer, why has there been silence till now against a habitual offender like Wajahat Khan?”

According to available information, four complaints against Khan were filed earlier by different groups, including one by an organization named Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad. The complaints accuse Khan of inciting communal tension and disrupting social harmony through his social media activity. Following Panoli’s arrest, Khan locked his social media accounts and deleted several older posts.

Despite the growing number of complaints, no arrest or formal police action has been reported against Khan as of June 3. Multiple attempts to reach senior officials at Kolkata Police Headquarters for comments received no response.