Himanta Biswa, VHP in Bengal go after Wajahat Khan whose complaint led to influencer for hate speech

The arrest of a law student for derogatory remarks against the Prophet Mohammed has enraged right-wing Hindutva groups, who have, however, filed complaints against Wajahat Khan—whose complaint led to the arrest—whereupon Kolkata Police has booked him on charges of hate speech for allegedly making communal posts on social media, even as he remains absconding.

Wajahat Khan is not only wanted in West Bengal but is also being pursued by the Assam Police for allegedly making derogatory comments about Devi Maa Kamakhya.

The 30-year-old co-founder of the Rashidi Foundation has been charged under the same sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as Panoli, including provisions related to promoting enmity between groups, deliberate acts to outrage religious sentiments, intentional insult aimed at provoking breach of peace, and incitement to public mischief, The Indian Express reported.

The charges were registered at the Golf Green police station based on a complaint filed by Sujit Ghosh, while multiple other complaints have also been lodged against Khan across West Bengal.

Khan, who had earlier filed the complaint that led to the May 30 arrest of 22-year-old Panoli, is now facing at least five complaints himself—two at the Garden Reach police station, one at Metiabruz, one submitted to the Police Commissioner of the Asansol Durgapur Commissionerate by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and another at Jetia police station. These complaints accuse Khan of making derogatory remarks that allegedly hurt religious sentiments and amounted to hate speech.

While his social media presence, including a now-locked X account, reportedly featured posts celebrating Panoli’s arrest and calling for action against her, police sources confirmed that Khan was last seen in his locality on Sunday and has since disappeared, with no missing person report filed by his family. Kolkata Police officials added that both Assam Police and Delhi Police are searching for him, and a three-member team from Assam Police has already visited his area of residence.

The case took a new turn after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that a case had been registered against Khan for making alleged derogatory comments about Devi Maa Kamakhya, and that Assam Police would seek his custody from West Bengal. While the extent of cooperation from the Bengal administration remains uncertain, law enforcement authorities in at least two states have now joined the effort to locate him.

The first complaint against Khan was filed on June 2 by Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad at the Garden Reach police station, where the group alleged that his posts were divisive and capable of inciting communal unrest.

Meanwhile, Panoli, who was arrested from Gurgaon by Kolkata Police, continues to be in judicial custody until June 13 after her interim bail plea was rejected by the Calcutta High Court earlier this week. The court maintained that the right to freedom of expression could not be used as a shield to justify content that offends others.