Muslim Professor arrested in Haryana over Operation Sindoor remarks
New Delhi: Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University and noted political commentator, was arrested by Haryana Police following a complaint filed by a leader of the BJP’s youth wing.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the arrest sparked a wave of criticism from academics, civil rights activists and public intellectuals across India.
The complaint, lodged by Yogesh Jatheri—General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha in Haryana—alleges that Dr. Mahmudabad’s comments on social media in the context of “Operation Sindoor” were provocative and hurtful to communal sentiments. He has been charged under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to disrupting communal harmony and promoting subversive speech.
Dr. Mahmudabad had, in a May 8 post, questioned the selective praise showered on army officers and drew attention to the government’s silence on victims of hate violence and state actions like demolitions. The post was sharply criticized by the Haryana State Women’s Commission, which accused him of belittling women in the armed forces and promoting division.
However, in response to the backlash, Dr. Mahmudabad clarified that his remarks were misinterpreted and had no bearing on gender. “The commission’s notice lacks any evidence of how my post violates women’s rights or laws protecting them,” he said.
His sudden arrest from Delhi—without what his supporters say was a valid transit remand—has been condemned as unlawful by legal experts. “This is a clear violation of procedure,” said Delhi University professor Apoorvanand, calling for judicial intervention and citing the Supreme Court’s precedent in the Pravir Purkayastha case.
The incident has ignited widespread outrage, with over 1,200 signatories—including prominent academics, retired bureaucrats, and public figures—releasing an open letter demanding an apology from the Haryana Women’s Commission and withdrawal of the summons.
The letter called the targeting of Mahmudabad an attempt at intimidation and censorship, warning of a deepening crackdown on intellectual freedom in India.
Dr. Mahmudabad is among a growing number of scholars and dissenting voices who have faced legal action in recent years for public commentary deemed critical of the ruling establishment.
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