CHANDIGARH: Days after the Haryana State Commission for Women issued a show-cause notice to an associate professor of Ashoka University in Sonepat, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, for his remarks on Operation Sindoor, the Haryana Police arrested him on Sunday, hours after two cases were registered against him.
The associate professor was arrested from Delhi, hours after the cases were registered on Saturday based on complaints filed by Yogesh Jatheri, a BJP Youth Morcha leader and the sarpanch of Jatheri village, and Haryana women's commission chairperson Renu Bhatia.
The cases are related to Mahmudabad's social media posts on Operation Sindoor and the female army officers who led the media briefing on the military operation.
In one of his social media posts on Operation Sindoor, Mahmudabad wrote, "... I am very happy to see so many right wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens. The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important but optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it's just hypocrisy."
"Perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the Bharatiya Janata Party's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens," he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Narender Kadyan, said Mahmudabad was arrested on the basis of two FIRs filed against him at the Rai police station.
“The first FIR was filed based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri under sections 196, 197, 152 and 299 of BNS, and the second FIR was registered following a complaint from Haryana women's commission chairperson Renu Bhatia under sections 353, 79, 152, 169 (1) of BNS. He will be produced in court and the police will seek his remand for further investigation,” Kadyan said.
Defending the professor, a letter signed by as many as 1,000 renowned scholars and academicians described him as a "good citizen and a true patriot."
The letter pointed out that in his social media posts, Mahmudabad had "analysed how any distinction between the terrorists or non-state actors and the Pakistani military has now collapsed, and said that the optics of the women officers chosen for media debriefs was “important” as proof that the secular vision of the founders of our Republic is still alive."
"Far from being misogynist or anti-national, Prof Khan’s posts are driven by a clear moral vision of what being a good citizen means and are actually the words of a true patriot who is concerned with the lives of both soldiers and citizens," the letter signed by veteran historians Romila Thapar and Ramachandra Guha and scholars such as Jayati Ghosh, Nivedita Menon and Ram Puniyani noted.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Ashoka University read, “We have been made aware that Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been taken into police custody earlier today. We are in the process of ascertaining details of the case. The university will cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation fully.”
The CPI(M), AIMIM leader Asaddudin Owaisi and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also condemned the arrest in strong words.
Reacting to the arrest, Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi wrote on X, “Utterly condemnable. If true, 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.”
In a post on X, the CPI (M) said, "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."
TMC leader Mohua Moitra said they will move the court against the arrest.
"Horrified at arrest of distinguished scholar & academic Prof @Mahmudabad - has this bigoted govt & @police_haryana totally lost it? We are moving court asap (sic)," she said on X 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.
After taking suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s social media posts following Operation Sindoor on May 7, the Haryana State Commission for Women issued a show-cause notice to him on May 12. The remarks were annexed in the notice and he was summoned to appear before the Commission.
In a statement to the media on May 14, Mahmudabad said, “The Haryana State Commission for Women issued summons to me on May 12, 2025, in relation to certain posts made by me on social media. My lawyers have submitted a detailed reply to these summons and represented me before the Commission today, May 14, 2025. The screenshots attached to the notice make it clear that my remarks have been completely misunderstood and that the Commission has no jurisdiction whatsoever in the matter.”
He added, “The Women’s Commission is a body that serves an important function; however, the summons issued to me fail to explain how my post violates any rights of, or laws protecting, women. Contrary to the allegations, my post appreciated the fact that the armed forces chose Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for a press conference, highlighting that the dream of our Republic’s founders—of an India united in its diversity—remains very much alive.”
“This is a new form of censorship and harassment,” Mahmudabad said, referring to the actions of the Commission. “I have faith in the process of law and know that my fundamental, constitutional, and statutory rights will be protected,” he added.
