The arrest is based on a complaint from a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing
NEW DELHI — Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor and head of the department of political science at the Sonipat-based Ashoka University in Haryana, was arrested on Sunday from his residence in the national capital.
The arrest follows the remarks he made regarding press briefings on Operation Sindoor. Mahmudabad’s lawyer confirmed the arrest, based on a complaint from a member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the ruling BJP, media reports said.
Haryana Police also confirmed the arrest. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajit Singh told PTI over the phone that the professor has been detained in connection with some comments related to Operation Sindoor.
Operation Sindoor was a military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which Indian forces launched precise strikes on terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.
The operation was significant not only for its strategic impact but also for the prominent role women officers played in it. Colonel Qureshi, Wing Commander Vyomika, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri jointly addressed the media in a rare public engagement reflecting the evolving profile of women in India’s defence forces.
The associate professor described the media briefings as “optics”. “But optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had said.
The Haryana State Commission for Women said an initial review of Mahmudabad’s remarks has raised concerns about the “disparagement of women in uniform, including Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika and undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed Forces”.
Earlier, the women’s commission sent a notice mentioning that the panel has taken suo motu cognisance of the “public statements/remarks” made “on or about May 7″ by Mahmudabad.
In a public statement posted on microblogging site X, the professor said he was surprised that the commission officials misunderstood his comments. “…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,” he posted.
Prof Mahmudabad’s posts, the commission also alleged, contained references to “genocide”, “dehumanisation” and “hypocrisy.” It also accused him of misrepresenting facts and attributing malicious intent to the Indian government.
In an earlier statement, Prof Mahmudabad defended his remarks, saying they were misread and misunderstood, and that he intended to promote peace and harmony. He said, “This is a new form of censorship and harassment, which invents issues where there are none.” He also stated that he applauded the Indian armed forces in his posts and exercised his fundamental right to free speech.
He further noted that his legal team had already appeared before the Commission on May 14, arguing that the summons “fail to highlight how my post is contrary to the rights of or laws for women.” He asserted that “there is nothing remotely misogynistic” in his comments.
However, the Chairperson of the Haryana Women’s Commission, Renu Bhatia, insisted that Mahmudabad must appear in person and not via legal representatives. “His lawyers representing him before the panel is not acceptable. The commission will consider legal action if he fails to comply,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ashoka University distanced itself from the professor’s remarks. “The comments made by a faculty member on his personal social media pages do not represent the opinion of the university,” a university statement said. It added that the university stands firmly with the nation and its armed forces.
In response, academics have begun rallying in support of Mahmudabad. A letter initiated by Delhi University’s Prof Apoorvanand and Ashoka University’s Prof Aparna Vaidik called for the withdrawal of the summons, describing the case as an attack on academic freedom and the right to dissent. — With inputs from Agencies
