Haryana Educator from Ashoka University Arrested for Controversial Comments Regarding Operation Sindoor
In a shocking turn of events, 42-year-old political science professor, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, from Haryana-based Ashoka University, is in police custody. The reason? His social media posts about Operation Sindoor, according to sources.
Yogesh Jatheri, the general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Haryana, filed a complaint that led to his arrest under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections covering incitement of armed rebellion or subversive activities, insulting religious beliefs, and even sedition. However, the police have been tight-lipped about the matter, yet to issue an official statement.
Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, voicing his outrage, posted on X, "Illegally arrested Dr Ali Khan... [He] must be released immediately." He also referred to a past Supreme Court judgment and urged the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court to intervene.
Mahmudabad's arrest stems from his comments perceived as disrespectful towards women in the Indian armed forces, and promoting communal disharmony. The Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance, even summoning the professor, but he failed to appear. He later claimed that the commission had misunderstood his comments, stating they were not meant to be misogynistic.
In his controversial posts, Mahmudabad questioned the sincerity of media briefings by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, suggesting they should translate into action on the ground. He also called for support for victims of mob lynchings and those whose properties have been bulldozed arbitrarily[1][2][3].
Ashoka University, in response, stated they are cooperating with the authorities and are gathering details about the case. Despite the arrest, the university remains committed to upholding academic freedom and will adhere to the law.
- Amidst the ongoing controversy, Delhi University professor Apoorvanand has expressed his concern about the education-and-self-development sector, stating, "The arrest of a professor on controversial social media posts is a threat to academic freedom and education in general."
- While Mahmudabad's legal battles with the crime-and-justice system unfold, politics and general-news platforms are abuzz, examining the implications of his arrest on free speech and the Indian democracy.
