Varsity associate prof arrested for social media posts on Operation Sindoor

Sonipat (Haryana), May 18: Ashoka University’s head of the political science department, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, was arrested on Sunday after two FIRs were lodged on stringent charges, including endangering sovereignty and integrity, for his social media posts related to Operation Sindoor, police and his lawyer said.
The arrest comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent a notice to the associate professor questioning his remarks, though Mahmudabad had maintained that they were “misunderstood” and asserted that he had exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech.
“Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested in Delhi,” Assistant Commissioner of Police, Rai, Ajeet Singh said over phone, adding the action came in connection with some comments related to Operation Sindoor.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Narender Kadyan said two FIRs were lodged at the Rai police station here – one based on a complaint from the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on the complaint of a village sarpanch.
“The case was lodged on Saturday and the next morning, the professor was arrested from Delhi. No notice was given to him and he was taken into custody by police,” one of Mahmudabad’s lawyers, Kapil Balyan said.
In a statement, the Ashoka University said it was trying to ascertain details of the case and will continue to cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation.
The CPI(M), AIMIM leader Asaddudin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra were among those who condemned the arrest.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA), in a statement, expressed outrage at the “wholly unwarranted arrest” and demanded that the charges against him be dropped.
In its May 12 notice, the Haryana State Commission for Women mentioned that the panel has taken suo motu cognisance of the “public statements/remarks” made “on or about May 7” by Mahmudabad.
Mahmudabad’s remarks had been annexed to the Commission’s notice, and in one of them, he said that right-wing people applauding Col Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and “arbitrary” bulldozing of properties.
The associate professor described the media briefings by Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as “optics”.
“But optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had said.
The Commission said an initial review of Mahmudabad’s remarks has raised concerns about the “disparagement of women in uniform, including Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, and undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed Forces”.
On Saturday, Mahmudabad had on his X handle, reposted a purported “open letter signed by over 1,200 people including academics, politicians, civil servants, and many others from all corners” that expressed support for the associate professor and demanded that the Haryana Women’s Commission retract its summons to him and issue an apology. (PTI)