Wazahat Khan, the man who filed FIR against influencer Sharmistha Panoli, arrested in Kolkata

Wazahat Khan arrested after filing complaint against influencer, facing multiple FIRs for spreading hatred on social media.

Wazahat Khan, whose complaint led to influencer Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest on May 30, was himself arrested on the night of June 9 from Kolkata’s Amherst Street area. BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul had also registered a case against Mr Khan last week. 

Multiple FIRs were filed against Mr Khan, including one in Assam, for “allegedly spreading hatred on social media and hurting religious sentiments,” according to Kolkata Police officials. 

The 29-year-old Wazahat Khan has been booked under Bhartiya Nyay Sanghita’s Sections 196(1)(a)/299/352/353(1)(c). He was absconding for the past 10 days. He is set to produced in a city court on Tuesday (June 10). 

Police had conducted multiple raids at Digha and Howrah based on leads. But Mr Khan was finally arrested from the Amherst Street area in relation to a case registered with the Golf Green Police Station.  

When Wazahat was absconding, his father shared concerns that his son was under threat. “He was getting multiple calls throughout the day. He left home and his phone is switched off. We have not been able to find him since then, we are really worried,” Sahadat Khan, Mr Wazahat’s father said. 

Reacting to Mr Khan’s arrest, BJP State president and MP, Sukanta Majumdar said that the Mamata Banerjee government “orchestrated his arrest through her subservient Kolkata Police to ensure his safe and protected custody under the State’s wing.” 

A team of Assam Police was also present in West Bengal looking for Mr Khan based on the case registered against him in Assam. There were social media rumours that the Kolkata Police was not cooperating with their Assam counterparts.