Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a noted political scientist and Associate Professor at Ashoka University, has been sent to 14 days of judicial custody by a district court in Sonipat, Haryana. The action comes in response to a Facebook post he made regarding “Operation Sindoor,” triggering sharp criticism from civil rights groups and academia, reported the Times of India.
The Haryana Police arrested Mahmudabad on May 18 following complaints by Yogesh Jatheri, BJP Yuva Morcha’s Haryana General Secretary, and Renu Bhatia, Chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women. Two FIRs were filed at Rai police station, charging him under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including for allegedly inciting armed rebellion, hurting religious sentiments, and promoting enmity between communities.
While the police sought a seven-day custody extension, the court rejected the plea and instead remanded Mahmudabad to judicial custody.
The arrest has drawn outrage from activists, legal experts, and academic circles, who denounced it as an assault on free speech. At a protest meeting organized by Nagrik Adhikar Manch Sonipat, held at Chhotu Ram Dharamshala, various speakers criticized the arrest as unconstitutional and politically motivated. The event was presided over by Shraddhanand Solanki.
Civil rights advocate and forum convener Kapil Balyan labelled the charges “fabricated and baseless,” demanding the FIRs be quashed and Mahmudabad be released unconditionally. He underscored the need for heightened public awareness and non-violent resistance to defend democratic rights.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear Mahmudabad’s petition challenging his arrest later this week. Support for the professor continues to swell, with many viewing the case as a litmus test for India’s constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression and dissent.
