Wajahat Khan, the man who filed the complaint that led to social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest in Gurugram, has reportedly gone missing. His father, Saadat Khan, said Wajahat has not been seen since Sunday night, and the family has been receiving threatening phone calls since Panoli’s arrest.
Sharmistha Panoli was arrested by Kolkata Police over a video in which she used abusive language and communal remarks criticizing Muslim Bollywood celebrities for staying silent on Operation Sindoor. Her arrest sparked outrage and calls for her release from several BJP leaders.
Following the arrest, Wajahat Khan and his family have reportedly faced threats and abusive calls accusing him of ruining Panoli’s life. Saadat Khan suggested that his son’s social media profile may have been hacked and insisted that Wajahat is innocent and secular.
Meanwhile, a formal complaint has been filed against Wajahat Khan by the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad, accusing him of making derogatory and inflammatory remarks against Hindus on social media. The complaint urges police to register an FIR under various sections of the law, including the IT Act.
The complaint alleges that Khan used offensive terms and vulgar language targeting Hindu deities, traditions, and festivals, and accuses him of spreading content intended to incite communal tension and disturb public peace.
A case has also been registered against Khan in Assam for an alleged post. Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said a police team would visit West Bengal to seek assistance in bringing Khan to justice.
Panoli was arrested on May 30 in Gurugram and sent to 14-day judicial custody in Kolkata after a complaint was lodged on May 15. The controversial video was later deleted, and Panoli issued a public apology.
In response to criticism over Panoli’s arrest, Kolkata Police defended their actions, emphasizing that hate speech and abusive language cannot be mistaken for freedom of expression.
