Man Who Filed Complaint Leading To Sharmistha Panoli’s Arrest Goes Missing Amid Threats
Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest sparked outrage; complainant Wajahat Khan went missing amid threats, while facing complaints for allegedly insulting Hinduism online.
The man who filed the police complaint that led to the arrest of social media influencer and law student Sharmistha Panoli has allegedly gone missing. Wajahat Khan, the complainant, has not been seen since Sunday night, according to his family, who also claim they have been receiving threatening phone calls following Panoli’s arrest.
Saadat Khan, Wajahat’s father, told Aaj Tak that the family has been targeted with threats since the arrest. "My son is innocent and secular. He cannot insult Hinduism. We have been receiving threats since Sharmistha's arrest," he said.
Wajahat Khan reportedly received abusive calls accusing him of ruining Panoli’s life, which left him deeply disturbed. Saadat Khan added that he, too, has been verbally abused and threatened over the phone. When asked about complaints alleging his son insulted Hinduism, Saadat said that Wajahat’s social media profile might have been hacked.
The controversy erupted after Sharmistha Panoli was arrested late on May 30 by Kolkata Police based on a complaint filed on May 15 at the Garden Reach Police Station. The arrest followed a video she posted, in which she used abusive language and communal remarks targeting Muslim Bollywood celebrities for not speaking out on Operation Sindoor. The video was later deleted, and Panoli issued a public apology.
Panoli’s arrest sparked widespread outrage on Sunday, with several BJP leaders demanding her release. However, Kolkata Police defended the action, clarifying that "hate speech and abusive language should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech and expression."
In a new development, a formal complaint has now been filed against Wajahat Khan by the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad. The complaint accuses him of making derogatory and inflammatory remarks against Hindus on social media, including terms like "rapist cultures" and "urine drinkers," as well as using vulgar and sexually explicit language targeting Hindu deities and traditions.
The complaint, dated June 2 and addressed to the Officer-in-Charge of Garden Reach Police Station, urges registration of an FIR under sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and sections 66A and 67 of the IT Act. It alleges Khan’s posts incite communal tensions, disrupt public peace, and promote enmity between religious groups.
Additionally, a case has been registered against Wajahat Khan in Assam related to his alleged social media posts. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that a police team from Assam will visit West Bengal to seek assistance in bringing Khan to justice.
Sharmistha Panoli remains in judicial custody in Kolkata for 14 days following her arrest.
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