Sharmistha Panoli arrest: Man who filed complaint held in Kolkata

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said that a case was also registered against Khan in Assam for allegedly making “unacceptable comments against Devi Maa Kamakhya”. “A case has been registered against him. So, our police will go to West Bengal and we will request the government of West Bengal to hand him over to Assam. But how much cooperation the government of West Bengal gives us, only time will tell,” he had said.

A senior Kolkata Police officer said Assam Police personnel had conducted searches for Khan, who has been absconding since the complaints.

On Monday, following a tip-off, the Kolkata Police arrested Khan from Amherst Street area. He will be produced in court on Tuesday.

Police sources said Khan, who is the co-founder of the Rashidi Foundation, has been booked under BNS Sections 196(1) (a) (promoting enmity between different groups), 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens), 352 (intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace), and 353(1)(c) (statements that incite public mischief).

The first complaint against Khan was filed by the Shri Ram Swabhiman Parishad on June 2. The organisation alleged that Khan’s posts promoted enmity between religious groups and could incite public disorder.

On May 30, the Kolkata Police had arrested Panoli (22) from Gurgaon over an allegedly objectionable social media post. She was released on interim bail last week.