Wazahat Khan is the individual who filed the initial police complaint that led to the arrest of Sharmishta Panoli, a 22-year-old law student and social media influencer, by the Kolkata Police. Panoli was arrested in Gurugram and taken to Kolkata following the complaint lodged on May 15, 2025, at the Garden Reach Police Station. The arrest was based on a video Panoli posted, in which she used abusive language and made communal remarks criticizing Muslim Bollywood celebrities for their silence on "Operation Sindoor." This operation is described as a counter-terror operation. The video was later deleted, and Panoli issued a public apology.

Following Panoli's arrest, Khan has been the subject of much scrutiny. Reports indicate that Khan has allegedly gone missing, with his father, Saadat Khan, claiming he has not been seen since Sunday night. The family also claims to have received threatening phone calls after Panoli's arrest.

Adding another layer to the controversy, complaints have been filed against Wazahat Khan himself. These complaints accuse Khan of making offensive remarks against Hindus, using derogatory language and sexually explicit terms to target Hindu deities and religious practices. It is alleged that Khan's social media posts contained hate speech, communal provocation, and content aimed at inciting tensions and disrupting public peace between religious groups. Some reports indicate that Khan has begun deleting these posts.

The Kolkata Police have defended Panoli's arrest, stating that they acted lawfully and followed due procedure. They clarified that the arrest was not for expressing patriotism or personal beliefs but for sharing offensive content that promoted hatred among communities. According to the police, multiple attempts were made to serve legal notices to Panoli and her family, but they were allegedly found to be absconding, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant. Panoli has been booked under sections related to promoting enmity between groups, outraging religious feelings, intentional insult to provoke breach of peace, and inciting public mischief. She is currently in 14-day judicial custody.

Panoli's arrest has sparked outrage and debate, with many questioning the proportionality of the action and raising concerns about freedom of speech. Some BJP leaders have called for her release, and the Bar Council of India has demanded a fair trial. Concerns have also been raised regarding Panoli's conditions in jail, with her advocate claiming that her basic rights are being denied and that hygiene is not being maintained at the correctional facility. She has filed a plea regarding the conditions.

Conversely, many are criticizing Khan, stating that the Kolkata police are showing hypocrisy by not taking action against him.

The situation remains tense, with accusations of double standards and selective outrage.