An associate professor at Ashoka University in Haryana was arrested on Sunday for his alleged remarks on the media briefings conducted by two women armed forces officers on Operation Sindoor. However, the arrest sparked an outrage with several political leaders and a section of the academic community condemning the Haryana police action.
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, the head of the political science department, was arrested after two FIRs were lodged on stringent charges, including endangering sovereignty and integrity, for his social media posts.
The FIRs were filed based on two complaints—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.
"On the Commission chairperson's complaint, the FIR has been lodged against Prof Ali of Ashoka University under BNS sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty or unity and integrity of India), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman) and 196 (1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion)," Deputy Commissioner of Police Narender Kadyan told the media.
In a social media post, Mahmudabad had 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.
Earlier, Haryana State Commission for Women had sent a notice to the assistant professor, saying his remarks has raised concerns about the "disparagement of women in uniform”.
Mahmudabad, however, maintained that they were "misunderstood" and asserted that he had exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech.
My statement re the summons that I received from the Haryana State Women’s Commission.
— Ali Khan Mahmudabad (@Mahmudabad) May 14, 2025
The posts that were misunderstood and objected to can be accessed on my Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/U4rZrAXhFx
"...I am surprised that the Women's Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misread and misunderstood my posts to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning," Mahmudabad had said on X.
Political row erupts
Several opposition leaders, including AIMIM leader Asaddudin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, condemned the arrest and said they will move the court against the police action.
"Haryana police reportedly arrested him from Delhi, violating legal process. This targets an individual for his opinions; his post wasn't anti-national or misogynistic. A mere complaint by a BJP worker made Haryana police take action," Owaisi wrote on X.
"Horrified at arrest of distinguished scholar & academic Prof @Mahmudabad - has this bigoted govt & @police_haryana totally lost it? We are moving court asap (sic)," said Moitra.
The CPI(M), too, criticised the arrest. "We condemn the arrest of professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his social media post against hate. While hate-mongers like Vijay Shah (Madhya Pradesh minister) roam free, those calling for justice and peace are targeted in Modi's India,” it said.
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) issued a statement condemning Mahmudabad's arrest and demanding that the charges against him be dropped.
"The JNUTA expresses its outrage at the wholly unwarranted arrest by the Haryana Police of Dr Khan. This arrest, purportedly on the basis of a complaint by a leader of the ruling party, follows soon after the Haryana State Commission for Women acted way beyond its jurisdiction in taking suo motu cognisance of some statements made by Professor Khan,” it said.
