Wajahat Khan Arrested After Days on the Run

In a significant development, Kolkata Police arrested Wajahat Khan, the controversial social media activist and co-founder of the Rashidi Foundation, late on June 9, 2025. Khan had been absconding for over a week after multiple complaints were filed against him for allegedly hurting Hindu religious sentiments, particularly targeting the revered Maa Kamakhya of Assam. The arrest comes amid growing demands for his handover to the Assam Police, who have filed a separate FIR in Guwahati under strict sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and IT laws.

The case has sparked outrage on social media and triggered a political war of words between BJP and Trinamool Congress. The arrest is also being seen by many as a case of poetic justice, especially since it was Khan’s original FIR that had led to the arrest of influencer Sharmistha Panoli just days earlier.

FIRs Filed Over Hate Speech and Social Media Posts

Wajahat Khan faced at least seven separate complaints across West Bengal and Assam, accusing him of repeatedly posting derogatory, hateful, and sexually explicit content targeting Hinduism. One complaint specifically accused him of calling Hinduism a “rapist culture” and referring to Hindus as “urine drinkers.” He has been booked under Sections 196(1)(a), 299, 352, and 353(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with several provisions of the Information Technology Act, for spreading enmity and public mischief.

Most notably, an FIR was lodged in Guwahati, Assam, for a post allegedly mocking Maa Kamakhya, one of the most sacred forms of Devi worshipped in the Shakti Peetha tradition. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the FIR and publicly stated that “Assam Police will take lawful action.” A five-member team from Assam travelled to Kolkata to coordinate the arrest and seek Khan’s custody through transit remand procedures.

Assam Police Seeks Custody Over Kamakhya Temple Insult

Following the arrest, the focus shifted to whether Assam Police will gain custody of Wajahat Khan to face legal proceedings in Guwahati. Assam officers already coordinated two raids earlier with Garden Reach Police, but Khan had been evading arrest since June 1. After his capture, officials in Kolkata confirmed that they will “extend full cooperation” to the Assam team, provided the legal process for custody is completed through court orders.

The Kamakhya Temple, a spiritual and cultural epicentre in northeast India, holds deep emotional value across the region. Insults directed at the deity are viewed as blasphemy by the local population. Hence, the Assam Police have taken a strong position, and public opinion across Assam has been vocal about the need for Khan’s trial under state jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, social media erupted with demands such as “Only Assam Police can teach him a lesson,” and several right-wing handles mocked Khan’s arrest, calling it “karma” for his earlier role in the arrest of Sharmistha Panoli.

Political and Legal Fallout in Bengal and Beyond

The arrest has added a new layer to the ongoing debate on selective freedom of speech, communal sensitivity, and political appeasement. While BJP leaders slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led Kolkata Police for initially “shielding” Wajahat Khan, the Trinamool Congress maintained that due process was being followed and no political interference occurred.