Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad Arrested Over Operation Sindoor Remarks

Operation Sindoor: Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested for his remarks on social media about India's ‘Operation Sindoor’ against terror groups based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

The case was filed on Saturday at the Rai police station in the Sonepat district based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha in Haryana.

"Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested from Delhi," Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Rai, Ajeet Singh told news agency PTI.

In a statement, the Ashoka University, said, "We have been made aware that Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been taken into police custody earlier today. We are in the process of ascertaining details of the case".

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"The University will continue to cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation, fully," it said.

The Haryana state commission for women had earlier issued a notice to Mahmudabad regarding his a notice to Mahmudabad regarding his comments on Operation Sindoor. The notice, dated May 12, said that the Commission had taken suo motu cognisance of the "public statements/remarks" made by him "on or about May 7." Mahmudabad heads the political science department at Ashoka University

The associate professor was picked up from his home in Delhi on Sunday morning, and is currently at the Rai police station, according to Ashoka University’s student newspaper The Edict. Faculty members of the university and activists have gathered at the police station seeking clarity on the arrest.

Earlier this week, the Haryana State Women’s Commission had summoned Mahmudabad, claiming that comments about the media briefings “disparaged women officers in the Indian armed forces and promoted communal disharmony”.

Ali Khan Mahmudabad, in his response to the summons, stated that his social media posts on Operation Sindoor and the women officers involved were not misogynistic and that he was being censored.

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In a statement released on X, the professor stated, "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. The Women's Commission is a body that serves an important function; however, the summons issued to me fail to highlight how my post is contrary to the rights of or laws for women."

Mahmudabad said he had appreciated that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had been chosen for the press conference to represent India's diversity.

“I even applauded members of the right wing who supported Colonel Qureshi and invited them to have the same attitude for common Indian Muslims who face demonisation and persecution on a daily basis. If anything, my entire comments were about safeguarding the lives of both citizens and soldiers. Furthermore there is nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women,” he said.

Mahmudabad referred to the media briefing on ‘Operation Sindoor’ conducted by women officers as “optics” and “just hypocrisy”. The Haryana State Commission viewed his comments as “an attempt to vilify national military actions”.

In a Facebook post included in the commission’s notice, Mahmudabad stated, “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.”

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