Wajahat Khan Qadri, the man who filed a police case against social media influencer and law student Sharmishta Panoli, has been arrested by Kolkata Police. Khan was reportedly evading arrest since June 1, despite being served three notices at his residence in Garden Reach.
Khan’s complaint had earlier led to Panoli’s controversial arrest on May 30 over a video where she made derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammad while criticizing Bollywood celebrities’ silence on Operation Sindoor.
The video sparked backlash, leading Panoli to delete it and issue a public apology. She was granted interim bail by the Calcutta High Court on June 5.
Meanwhile, Khan himself was facing legal heat. A case was registered against him at Golf Green Police Station for allegedly spreading hate speech and hurting religious sentiments through his social media posts. On June 2, the Shree Ram Swabhiman Parishad also lodged a complaint, accusing him of using derogatory and inflammatory language against Hindu deities and traditions.
Despite repeated summons, Khan remained on the run until his arrest on Monday. The police allege that his online activity was intended to incite communal disharmony.
His arrest has added a new layer of complexity to the ongoing public debate surrounding the Panoli case, which has drawn political and international attention — including comments from a Dutch MP and Indian celebrities.
