ArrestWajahatKhan Trend Escalates: Public Outcry Tests West Bengal’s Policing Credibility
No action against Wajahat Khan fuels allegations of selective enforcement, reigniting debate over Panoli’s arrest and state response
Kolkata, June 1, 2025 — A digital groundswell erupted across India today as the hashtag #ArrestWajahatKhan surged through social media platforms, demanding legal action against Wajahat Khan for allegedly offensive remarks about Maa Kamakhya, a deity held in deep reverence across Assam and parts of eastern India.
The uproar has quickly grown into a political and legal flashpoint. As of Sunday afternoon, no action had been confirmed by either the West Bengal Police or any government agency, drawing comparisons to the recent arrest of Sharmistha Panoli, a law student taken into custody under similar charges less than three weeks ago.
Online Mobilisation Gains Momentum
Accusations against Wajahat Khan began circulating early June 1, when screenshots allegedly showing his remarks on Maa Kamakhya began trending. By late afternoon, hundreds of posts calling for his arrest had surfaced. Among them, user @asliarpita demanded immediate police action, writing: “He insulted our goddess. Why the silence now?”
All the Social media warriors, do you have the guts to demand #ArrestWajahatKhan ?
— Arpita Chatterjee (@asliarpita) June 1, 2025
Write with me . pic.twitter.com/bdQ5XbdS5E
Others echoed the sentiment with sharper tones. A post from @Kalicharan_jii, directed at Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, asked, “What happens now? This is the same person who pushed for action against Sharmistha.” His comments were joined by a wave of similar queries questioning the state’s response—or lack thereof.
गुस्ताख ए देवी की क्या है सजा ? @himantabiswa#ArrestWajahatKhan pic.twitter.com/SRSOlWloob
— Kalicharan Maharaj (@Kalicharan_jii) June 1, 2025
A number of posts tagged the official handles of the Home Ministry, Assam CM, and Kolkata Police, urging authorities to act swiftly. Yet, as of 4:23 PM IST, there had been no official statement or indication that an FIR had been registered.
Echoes of the Panoli Case Resurface
The lack of action has become more contentious given the backdrop of Sharmistha Panoli’s arrest. On May 14, Khan had lodged a police complaint against the 22-year-old student from Symbiosis International University, accusing her of hurting religious sentiments through a social media video.
Despite the student issuing a public apology on May 15, a police team from Garden Reach, Kolkata, travelled to Gurgaon and arrested her within 72 hours. She was booked under Sections 295A, 153A, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code, and remains in judicial custody until June 13. Symbiosis also suspended her for a three-month period pending internal inquiry.
That case now serves as the reference point in this current controversy, with critics calling the divergent responses “inexplicable.”
Silence From Kolkata Police Adds to Tensions
By evening, the absence of any formal communication from Kolkata Police or West Bengal’s Home Department was fueling speculation and anger online. Hashtags like #MaaKamakhya and #EqualJustice began to trend alongside #ArrestWajahatKhan, while verified handles raised direct questions about enforcement standards.
A prominent legal commentator, @AdvAshutoshBJP, posted: “The posts by Khan surfaced before Panoli’s. Why was one arrested and the other untouched? Rule of law must apply equally.”
His concerns were shared widely across platforms, particularly on forums like r/IndiaSpeaks, where a thread highlighting Khan’s role in Panoli’s arrest received over 470 upvotes within hours. The thread’s author pointedly noted: “Selective enforcement undermines the rule of law.”
A Pattern, Critics Say
This is not the first time the West Bengal government and its law enforcement apparatus have faced allegations of bias. In April, during communal tensions in Murshidabad, a fact-finding report cited by The Hindu criticised the administration for being “non-assertive” during violence that left several injured. Eyewitness accounts at the time claimed that a Trinamool Congress leader was present at the site during the peak of the clashes.
Separately, the National Commission for Women had issued a statement in late April expressing “grave concern” over what it described as the “poor handling” of a Waqf-related riot that resulted in three deaths. The commission questioned the “intent and neutrality” of the state police, and asked the Home Ministry to review the standard operating procedures of riot response.
Political Pressure Builds Across State Lines
With Assam’s Kamakhya Temple being one of the most prominent Shakti Peeths in the country, the matter has also taken on inter-state dimensions. Several users have appealed directly to Himanta Biswa Sarma, tagging him in posts and requesting his intervention in the matter. However, neither the Assam Chief Minister’s Office nor the West Bengal Secretariat has issued any statement so far.
One post that gained traction, by @Manuhindu007, said: “Maa Kamakhya insulted, and no one from the government has responded. Is there any accountability left?”
Uneven Justice? A Question of Credibility
At its core, the debate now stretches beyond Wajahat Khan. The issue has spiralled into a larger reckoning over how India handles religiously sensitive speech and whether enforcement remains equal for all citizens—regardless of political or ideological affiliations.
The Trinamool-led administration finds itself under renewed scrutiny. Past criticisms of delayed or inconsistent policing—especially in communally charged cases—are now being revived, with opposition leaders beginning to weigh in.
Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, speaking earlier this month about the Murshidabad incident, had said: “Law and order in Bengal has become an arm of political convenience. Today it’s about religious speech, tomorrow it could be about anything.”
His comment is now being referenced again by party leaders demanding consistency in applying the law.
What’s Next?
As Sunday draws to a close, calls for accountability only continue to grow louder. Legal experts note that if West Bengal Police fail to address the allegations, a writ petition could be filed in either the Calcutta High Court or Guwahati High Court demanding explanation or intervention.
But for now, public anger remains directed squarely at the glaring discrepancy: One arrest carried out within 72 hours. The other, still unacknowledged.
Whether this impasse resolves with legal action—or deepens into another front in India’s polarised public discourse—will depend on how swiftly authorities choose to respond.
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